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The PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS 1493-1898
Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the
Islands and their Peoples, their History and Records of
the Catholic Missions, as related in contemporaneous
Books and Manuscripts, showing the Political, Eco-
nomic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of those
Islands from their earliest relations with European
Nations to the close of the Nineteenth Century
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINALS
Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and
James Alexander Robertson, with historical intro-
duction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord
Bourne. With maps, portraits and other illustrations
Volume XLVII — 1 728-1759
-,
The Arthur H. Clark Company
Cleveland, Ohio
MCMVII
:<-A %. if Of
CONTENTS OF VOLUME XLVII
Preface n
Documents of 1728-1759
The Santa Misericordia of Manila. Juan
Bautista de Uriarte; Manila, 1728 . 23
Survey of the Filipinas Islands. Fernando
ValdesTamon; Manila, 1739. (To this
is added, "The ecclesiastical estate in the
aforesaid Philipinas islands," by Pablo
Francisco Rodriguez de Berdozido;
[Manila], 1742.) 86
The Order of St. John of God. Juan Mal-
donado de Puga; Granada, 1742 . . 161
Letter to the president of the India Coun-
cil. Pedro Calderon y Enriquez; Ma-
nila, July 16, 1746 230
Letter of a Jesuit to his brother. Antonio
Masvesi; Cavite, December 2, 1749 . 243
Commerce of the Philipinas Islands.
Nicolas Norton Nicols ; Manila, [1759] 251
Bibliographical Data . . . . . 285
Appendix : Relation of the Zambals. Domingo
Perez, O.P. ; Manila, 1680 . . . 289
ILLUSTRATIONS
Map of the Philippine Islands; photographic
facsimile of original MS. map (ca. 1742) in
Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid.
Frontispiece
Plan of Manila, ca. 1742; photographic fac-
simile from original manuscript in Museo-
Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid . . .89
Plan of Cavite and its fortifications, (ca. 1742) ;
photographic facsimile from original manu-
script in Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar,
Madrid 107
Cebu and its fortifications, ca. 1742; photo-
graphic facsimile from original manuscript
in Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid . 115
Plan of fort at Zamboanga, 1742; photographic
facsimile from original manuscript in Museo-
Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid . . .121
Church of San Juan de Dios, Manila, in Religi-
osa hospitalidad, by Juan M. Maldonado de
Puga (Granada, 1742), facing p. 148; photo-
graphic facsimile from copy in collection of
Eduardo Navarro, O.S.A., at Colegio de Fili-
pinas, Valladolid 177
PREFACE
The documents presented in this volume (which
covers the years 1728-59) form a comprehensive and
interesting survey of the islands and their condition -
social, religious, military, and commercial - during
the middle portion of the eighteenth century; and
the writers of these are prominent in their respective
spheres of action. The appendix furnishes a valu-
able description of the savage Zambals of western
Luzon, written by a Dominican missionary among
that people in 1680.
The first document is a translation and condensa-
tion of the Manifiesta y resumen historico de la
fundacion de la venerable hermandad de la Santa
Misericordia (Manila, 1728), by Juan Baptista de
Uriarte. This poorly-constructed work is chiefly
valuable, not for the direct historical facts that it
gives, but for the social and economic deductions
that can be made from those facts. For instance, in
spite of the great poverty prevailing among certain
classes of Manila, it is apparent that the city pos-
sessed much wealth, else it would have been quite
impossible for the brotherhood of Santa Misericor-
dia to carry on its beneficent work to so great an ex-
tent. The brotherhood is founded April 16, 1594,
after the model of the brotherhood of the same name
1 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
in Lisboa, its first establishment being in the school
of Santa Potenciana. The rules of the new organiza-
tion are ordained January 14, 1597, and first printed
in 1606. The favor and protection accorded it in
the beginning by Luis Perez Dasmarinas is con-
tinued by many succeeding governors and ecclesias-
tics, many of whom act as purveyors. As might be
expected, the first attempts toward charitable aid are
weak, but strength is gradually attained, and the
noble work of the brotherhood receives due recogni-
tion. Certain pious funds are gradually established ;
the brotherhood executes many wills; a hospital is
early founded, under the spiritual charge of the
Franciscans. In 1597, the royal hospital is taken in
charge by the Misericordia at the request of Gov-
ernor Tello, in order that it may be managed better.
Amid all the many disasters from the time of its
foundation to 1728 - shipwrecks, other sea acci-
dents, invasions by the Dutch, earthquakes, etc.- the
brotherhood ever lends a helping hand cheerfully.
The city is divided into three parts, for the greater
good of the poor and destitute. The various amounts
of the alms distributed, which are given throughout
the work, show how well the brotherhood discharged
the purpose of its foundation. Christianity is debtor
to this organization through the aid furnished to the
religious orders at various times. Generous aid has
been given to the prisons, to poor widows, to orphan
girls (for whom a school is founded), and to noble
destitute families, and others. Its activities extend
even to the ransoming of Spanish and Portuguese
prisoners from the Dutch; to the care of the native,
Spanish, and foreign soldiers who fight under the
banners of Spain; and even to Japan. A productive
1 7 28-1 7 59] PREFACE I 3
rule of the brotherhood is the one compelling all the
brothers at death to leave something to the associa-
tion. From 1 619 on, many loans are made from the
coffers of the Misericordia to the royal treasury,
which is generally in a state of exhaustion ; and these
loans are always cheerfully given, even in the midst
of the depressions that the association experiences.
That the brotherhood has enemies is shown by cita-
tions from a manifesto which charges it with neglect
and poor business management. These charges are,
however, disproved by our author. Indeed, the Ma-
nila house exceeds in the amount of its alms, those
given by the Lisbon or mother house. Elections are
annual, and are made by ten members chosen by the
brotherhood as a unit. The board is composed of
thirteen brothers, chief of whom is the purveyor; his
duties, as well as those of the secretary, treasurer, and
three stewards, are stated. The remaining brothers
of the board are known as deputies. Royal decrees
of 1699 and 1708 exempt the association from visita-
tion by either ecclesiastical or civil officials, a con-
cession that had been long before conferred upon it
by Tello. An important event in the history of the
brotherhood is the completion in 1634 of its church
and school of Santa Isabel, whereby it does much
good, especially among the orphan girls under its
charge. Confessions in the school are in charge of
the Jesuits. Many of the girls of the school enter
the religious life, but others marry, and to all such
a generous dowry is provided. Regular devotions
are prescribed for the girls ; and for the brothers of
the association various church duties are ordained.
The girls are also required to help in the kitchen and
to learn the duties of housekeeping, so that at mar-
1 4 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
riage they are quite ready to assume the position of
wife. The number of girls and women aided in this
school and church reaches into the thousands, and
the expenses of the church have been considerably
over 100,000 pesos. In 1656, the brotherhood makes
a transfer of its hospital to the hospital order of St.
John of God. Chief among the funds established for
the use of the brotherhood are those by Governor
Manuel de Leon of 50,000 pesos, and by the famous
Archbishop Pardo of 13,000. Notwithstanding the
many disasters that have occurred in the islands,
many of which affect the brotherhood, the latter has
never been in a better condition than at the time when
this manifesto is written. In his final chapter, Uri-
arte gives a list of the members of the board of the
brotherhood, of which he is secretary. He also gives
in full various documents which he has mentioned
in the body of his relation. Under charge of the
association is the appointment of twenty-nine chap-
laincies (apparently among the religious orders, for
ten chaplaincies for lay priests are also mentioned) ;
and a certain number of fellowships are supported
in San Jose college. The brotherhood is composed
of 250 members, whose qualifications and duties are
given. The work ends with an account of the annual
alms given by the association.
The condition of the islands in 1739 is well de-
picted in the relation furnished in that year to the
home government by Governor Valdes Tamon.
Brief descriptions are given of the city of Manila,
and the port of Cavite, with their fortifications,
gates, artillery, garrisons, and military supplies ; the
document contains similar accounts of all the other
military posts in the Philippines, and short descrip-
1728-1759] PREFACE 15
•tions of the various provinces in which the islands
are governed. Lack of space, however, obliges us to
omit the greater part of these accounts, presenting
only those concerned with Manila, Cavite, Cebu, and
Zamboanga.
In 1742 an additional report was made for the
king in regard to the status of the ecclesiastical estate
in the islands; this is here given in full. The four
cathedral churches are first mentioned, with the
jurisdiction, incumbent, expenses, and sources of in-
come of each. The other religious and the educa-
tional institutions of Manila, and its hospitals, are
enumerated, with statements of the aid given to each
by the royal treasury. A list is given of all the en-
comiendas in the islands granted for such purposes,
also of those granted to private persons. Another
section is devoted to the missions which are carried
on by the religious orders, and to the expenditures
made for them by the government of the islands,
tabulated statements of which are given, as in the
other sections of this report. There is also a table of
the amounts collected by the religious who are in
charge of the mission villages, as offerings on feast
days. At the close are found some remarks eulogistic
of the friars' labors in the islands, with an expression
of regret that they have not carried out the king's
orders to have the Castilian language taught to the
Filipino natives.
The work carried on by the Misericordia was well
supplemented by that of the hospital order of St.
John of God, an account of which was published
(Granada, 1742) by one of its brethren in Manila,
Juan Manuel Maldonado de Puga. He describes
the urgent need of aid for the sick there, the efforts
1 6 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
made in early years (chiefly by the Misericordia) to
supply this want, and the coming of the hospitalers
of St. John (1641) to Manila. The government
places in their charge the royal hospital at Cavite
(1642) , and the Misericordia surrender to them their
hospital in Manila (1656) ; and for a time they con-
duct a hospital for convalescents at Bagumbaya. A
full account is given of the transfer of the Misericor-
dia hospital, and of its history up to 1740. Some
difficulties arise between the hospitalers and the Mi-
sericordia, which are decided in favor of the former
by the Jesuit university. Maldonado presents a care-
ful description of the new church and convent
erected in 1727 by the hospitalers, and narrates the
leading events in their history. An interesting digres-
sion by our author describes the system of weighing
in use by the Sangley traders in the islands, and the
substitution therefor (1727) of the Castilian steel-
yard and standards of weight ; he states that he is the
first to explain the Chinese system, and we know of
no other writer who has done so. He proceeds to
give an account of the manner in which the Filipinas
province of the hospital order is governed, with lists
of its provincials and of its present officers and mem-
bers; and then enumerates the incomes and contri-
butions of the order in the islands, relating the history
of these, and similarly the grants of royal aid to its
work there. In this connection is described the per-
sonal service called reserva or polo, which is imposed
on the natives. Another chapter enumerates and de-
scribes the charitable foundations [obras pias] from
which the hospital receives aid. Maldonado de-
scribes the present condition of the other hospitals in
the islands, those outside Manila being mainly for
1728-1759] PREFACE 17
special classes - the lepers, the Chinese, the soldiers,
etc.; and few of them are properly managed or
served. He ends with an apology for numerous
errors in his text, due to the blunders of native
amanuenses.
A letter from Manila (July 16, 1746) to the presi-
dent of the India Council recounts the difficulties
and dangers with which the islands are threatened
by the Dutch and English, who are sending goods
from their Eastern factories to America, lying in
wait to seize the Spanish galleons, and even menac-
ing Manila. The writer suggests that the former
trade between Luzon and the Malabar coast be re-
sumed, and that more effective measures be taken to
overawe the Dutch and English in Eastern waters.
The Jesuit Antonio Masvesi informs his brother
(December 2, 1749) of the failure of the Jolo and
Mindanao missions, and severely criticises the gov-
ernor, Bishop Arrechedera, for his infatuation with
(the sultan of Jolo, and his lavish entertainment of
that treacherous and crafty Moro, against the advice
of the Jesuits. Masvesi sends also an account of
these matters by a brother Jesuit, these letters being
intended to counteract the influence of Arrechedera's
reports to the home government.
A curious memorial to the king, by an English-
man named Norton but naturalized in Spain, urges
that that country open up a direct commerce with the
Philippine Islands by way of the Cape of Good
Hope, and that mainly in cinnamon. He enumerates
the products and exports of the islands, and urges
that these be cultivated more than they are - above
all, the cinnamon, which is now purchased by Spain
and her colonies from the Dutch, at exorbitant
1 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
prices. The finest quality of this spice could be pro-
duced in Mindanao, and Norton recommends that
plantations of cinnamon be made there, thus furnish-
ing it to Spain and the colonies at a lower price, and
retaining their silver for their own use instead of
allowing their enemies to get possession of it. He
recapitulates the great advantages which will accrue
to Spain, to her people and colonists, and to the In-
dian natives, from the execution of this project; and
he would cultivate in the islands not only cinnamon
but pepper. He cites figures from the Amsterdam
Gazette to show how great quantities of commodities
which might be produced by the Philippines are
brought to Europe from the Dutch factories in the
East; and he points out how Spain might profitably
exchange cinnamon and pepper for the lumber, cord-
age, etc., which she now purchases for cash from
Norway and Russia. He urges that Spain should no
longer submit to the tyranny of the Dutch and other
heretics, who are really in her power, since they must
depend on her for silver. He asks that the king will
appoint a commission to examine and report on his
project, and enumerates various conditions which he
requires in order to establish the direct commerce
between Spain and Filipinas. At the end are stated
the numerous advantages which would accrue to
Spain and the colonies from the execution of Nor-
ton's plan.
Appendix : Domingo Perez, one of the most noted
of the seventeenth century Dominican missionaries,
writes an account in 1680, from personal experience,
of the newly-acquired Dominican province of Zam-
bales, in which he describes that province, and the
people in their manifold relations. He gives much
1728-1759] PREFACE 19
interesting information, for the truth of which he
vouches, concerning the Malayan race of the Zam-
bals, whose peculiar characteristics he describes,
from the standpoints of their religion and supersti-
tions, and their social and economic life; describes
the changes effected by the softening influences of the
Christian religion; and gives various suggestions as
to their management. They are seen to possess a
religion somewhat vague in its general concept, but
quite specific and complex in its individual points,
with a graded priesthood, to all of which, however,
not too great importance must be attached. In their
superstitious beliefs, they approach quite closely to
the other peoples of the Philippines. Birds are a
good or bad omen according to circumstances;
sneezing is always a bad omen; great credence is
given to dreams. Marriage is an important cere-
mony, and chastity is general among the women, who
exercise great power among the people. Feasts are
occasions for intoxication. Above all, they are fierce
headhunters, and strive to cut off as many heads as
possible, although they are a cowardly race. The
Dominican policy of governing the Zambals is one
of concentration, in which they are well aided by the
garrison of Spanish soldiers stationed in the Zambal
country.
The Editors
December, 1906.
DOCUMENTS OF 1728-1759
The Santa Misericordia of Manila. Juan Bautista
deUriarte; 1728.
Survey of the Filipinas Islands. Fernando Valdes
Tamon; 1739. (To this is added, "The ecclesias-
tical estate in the aforesaid Philipinas islands," by
Pablo Francisco Rodriguez de Berdozido; [Ma-
nila], 1742.)
The Order of St. John of God. Juan Maldonado de
Puga; 1742.
Letter to the president of the India Council. Pedro
Calderon y Enriquez; July 16, 1746.
Letter of a Jesuit to his brother. Antonio Masvesi ;
December 2, 1749.
Commerce of the Philipinas Islands. Nicolas Nor-
ton Nicols; [1759].
Sources: The first document is translated (partly in full and
partly in synopsis) from Manifiesta . . . del hospital de la
Sancta Misericordia (Manila, 1728) ; from a copy in the posses-
sion of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. The second, from an original
MS. in the Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid; part of it (of
minor importance) is necessarily omitted here. The third (largely
in synopsis), from Religiosa hospitalidad por los hijos del . .
S. Ivan de Dios en Philipinas (Granada, 1742) ; from a copy be-
longing to E. E. Ayer. The fourth, from an original MS. in the
library of the Academia Espanola, Madrid. The fifth, from a
transcript in the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), iv, pp.
297-305. The sixth, from an original MS. (or possibly a con-
temporaneous copy) in possession of E. E. Ayer.
Translations : The first is made by James Alexander Robert-
son ; the remainder, by Emma Helen Blair.
THE SANTA MISERICORDIA OF
MANILA
CHAPTER I
Of the beginning of this venerable brotherhood of
the city of Manila, in the year 1 S94
[The Santa Misericordia of Manila1 was founded
in imitation of the association of the same name
which had been established in the city of Lisbon in
1 The translation of the title-page of this book is as follows :
"Manifesto and historical summary of the foundation of the
venerable brotherhood of the Santa Misericordia of the city of
Manila, the hospital, house, and girls' school and church of Santa
Ysabel; with the accommodations and advantages for the com-
mon public welfare, particularly of these islands; the alms,
succors, and dowries for the holy religious orders, and hospitals,
orphan girls, widows, those in prison, and other needy persons.
Satisfaction of the charitable and indefatigable task, disinterested
and noble method of procedure, faithful management without
interruption or any diminution in the works of charity, and the
administration of the pious foundations under their charge. Favors
and protection which it merited and obtained from our Catholic
Monarchs. Recommendation, concessions, indulgences, and relics
with which the supreme pontiffs have honored and enriched it.
All compiled and extracted from the books, bulls, decrees, and
other authentic instruments which are kept in their archives, by
commission and order of the purveyor and deputies who comprise
the present board, by Captain Don Juan Baptista de Uriarte, regi-
dor of this most noble city, and its procurator-general, and former
treasurer and present secretary of said venerable brotherhood.
Printed in the college and university of Santo Thomas, with the
necessary licenses, by Juan Correa. The year 1728." The
narrative is preceded by an introduction; a statement by the
author to the purveyor and deputies of the financial board of the
24 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
August 1498 with the consent of the vacant see and
of Queen Leonor, wife of Juan II. At the time of
the foundation of the Manila branch, Clement VIII
occupied the papal chair, and Luis Perez Dasmari-
nas was governor of Manila.]
CHAPTER II
Of the foundation of this venerable brotherhood,
and the circumstances attending it
The foundation of this venerable brotherhood was
April 16, 1594, the following being assembled and
congregated in the church of the holy Society of
Jesus of this city: his Excellency, Don Luis Perez
das Marinas, knight of the Order of Alcantara, gov-
ernor and captain-general of these islands for the
king our sovereign ; the very reverend father, Fray
Santa Misericordia, to the effect that he has completed his task
of compilation, dated June 28, 1728; thanks of the purveyor and
deputies to the author, and expression of intention to print the
work, dated June 30, 1728; decree to be sent to Fray Juan de
Arrechedera, O.P., commissary of the Holy Office, dated June 30,
1728; approbation of latter, July 8, 1728; government license,
July 9, 1728; table of chapters; note to reader.
Torrubia gives the following figures for the work accomplished
by the Misericordia from its foundation (in 1594) up to 1730.
"This house has endowed twenty-three thousand orphan girls,
the daughters of Spaniards; it has spent in their maintenance five
hundred and eight thousand, nine hundred and sixteen pesos. It
has supplied to our Catholic monarch in pressing emergencies four
hundred and forty-nine thousand, four hundred and eighteen pesos.
It has expended in Divine worship one hundred and fifty-five
thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four pesos; and it has given
in alms four million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, two
hundred and seven pesos. This statement of expenditures is ac-
curate, and is drawn from the original books of the said house. In
the life of the venerable Fray Simon de Roxas, book 8, fol. 418,
it is mentioned as unprecedented that the Misericordia of Lisboa
in one year gave in alms thirty thousand ducados; but that of
Manila gives every year seventy-one thousand, eight hundred and
twenty-four pesos."
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 25
Christoval de Salvatierra, of the Order of St. Domi-
nic, governor of the bishopric for his Excellency,
Don Fray Domingo de Salazar, its bishop, who at
that time was in the kingdoms of Castilla ; the vener-
able dean, Don Diego Basquez de Mercado; the
judiciary and municipal body of this noble city; the
master-of-camp of the royal army of these islands,
Don Diego Ronquillo; and the majority of the
nobility and citizens of the city. And they having
been informed of the so holy end for which this
venerable brotherhood and confraternity is instituted
(in regard to which matter, a devout talk was given
by the very reverend father rector of the college of
the said Society of Jesus, Antonio Sedefio, who with
the ardor of his spirit, informed them of the impor-
tance that the foundation of the venerable brother-
hood, whose institution they were discussing for the
spiritual and temporal welfare of their neighbors,
would be in the time of their greatest calamities and
miseries) ; in view of all of which, having conferred
with mature deliberation and due reflection concern-
ing the seriousness of the matter: they unanimously
and harmoniously decided upon the foundation of
so holy a brotherhood. From that time it was con-
sidered as established with the fixed resolution to
begin the exercise of works of charity, in accordance
with the rules which were made for the better gov-
ernment of the brotherhood, the original of which
are conserved in the first book of records. Then im-
mediately their Excellencies, the ecclesiastical and
secular governors, who were present, each one for
himself, in the part that pertained to him, confirmed
all the abovesaid and affixed their signatures. It
was agreed for the time being that this venerable
26 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
brotherhood of our Lady of Charity should be estab-
lished in the college of Santa Potenciana in this city.
The first brothers who composed the financial
board [mesa~\ of this brotherhood, numbered thir-
teen: the purveyor Don Luis Perez das Marinas,
knight of the Order of Alcantara, governor and
captain-general of these islands; its secretary, Don
Estevan de Marquina; its treasurer, Don Juan de
Esquerra; the deputies, Don Juan Ronquillo, Don
Christoval de Azqueta, Don Antonio de Cafiedo,
Don Francisco de Poza, Don Diego del Castillo,
Don Juan de Alzega, Don Juan Arseo, Don Her-
nando Nufiez de Peilalosa, Don Juan de la Lara,
and Don Thomas de Machuca. Those gentlemen in
the meeting held May 11, 1594, enacted that this
venerable brotherhood should militate under the
protection and favor of that of Lisboa, since that is
the head of all the brotherhoods which are founded
in the districts of Espaiia and of India, so that
recognizing this brotherhood as its offspring, they
might establish a mutual correspondence and a per-
petual brotherhood, and, as faithful brothers aiding
one another, obtain the chief end of their institute
which is directed to the exercise of works of charity
and mercy. On this matter, having written to the
said venerable brotherhood, the latter responded
without the least delay, congratulating it on having
obtained in its foundation and brothers the limit of
its desires, and despatched the rules of that house
which were received by this brotherhood in 1596.
And in order that they might be observed more
fittingly and performed in accordance with the condi-
tion and state of the land, it was necessary to revise
some of them, although only a few, but only after
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 27
great thought and consideration by very learned
persons. Those which today are in force were
ordained January 14, 1597, in a meeting called for
that effect. They were given to the press in 1606.
At the same time this brotherhood succeeded in
being admitted and recognized as an offspring by
the brotherhood of the Misericordia of the city of
Lisboa.
It is not outside the present matter to mention at
this place, although briefly . . . the governors
and captains-general for the king our sovereign,
who have been brothers and purveyors of the house
of the Misericordia of this city, as well as the arch-
bishops, ministers of the royal Audiencia, the ven-
erable deans, masters-of-camp, and others, who will
be named later, in the chronological order in which
they became brothers. It is as follows.
[These names are as follows: Luis Perez das
Marinas; Doctor Antonio de Morga; Licentiate
Christoval Telles de Almazan, auditor; Francisco
Tello; Fray Miguel de Venavides, archbishop;
Luis de Bracamonte, master-of-camp ; Doctor Juan
de Vibero, dean of the Manila cathedral; Doctor
Diego Basquez de Mercado, dean, vicar-general,
and archbishop ; Miguel Garsetas, chanter and pur-
veyor; Diego Ronquillo, master-of-camp and pur-
veyor; Juan Juares Gallinato, master-of-camp;
Doctor Juan Fernandez de Ledo, purveyor; Manuel
de Madrid y Luna, auditor; Doctor Alvaro de
Mesa y Luna, auditor; Juan de Balderrama, auditor;
Alonzo de Campos, archdeacon; Alonso Faxardo,
governor and purveyor; Mathias Flores Delgado,
auditor; Geronimo de Legazpi, auditor; Antonio
Alvarez de Castro, auditor; Sebastian Cavallero,
28 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
royal fiscal; Doctor Alonso Zapata, schoolmaster;
Alvaro Garcia de Ocampo, auditor; Doctor Fran-
cisco Samaniego, royal fiscal; Licentiate Juan de
Volivar y Cruz, royal fiscal; Sebastian Hurtado de
Corcuera, governor and purveyor; Sabiniano Man-
rique de Lara, governor and purveyor; Lorenso de
Olazo, master-of-camp ; Francisco Pasqual de Pano,
auditor; Augustin de Cepeda, master-of-camp and
purveyor; Thomas de Endaya, master-of-camp and
purveyor; Francisco de Atienza y Vanes, master-
of-camp; Doctor Diego Camacho y Avila, arch-
bishop ; Doctor Francisco Rayo Doria, dean, com-
missary of the Holy Crusade and purveyor; Doctor
Domingo de Valencia, bishop of Nueva Cazeres and
purveyor; Conde de Lizarraga, Martin de Ursua y
Arismendi, governor and purveyor; Doctor Joseph
de Torralva, auditor, governor, and purveyor;
Doctor Phelipe de Molina, bishop of Nueva
Cazeres; Doctor Manuel Antonio de Osio y
Ocampo, dean, vicar-general, and commissary;
Doctor Juan de la Fuente Yepez, schoolmaster;
Marquez de Torre Campo, governor and pur-
veyor.]
CHAPTER III
Of the condition and conveniences of this brother-
hood in its beginning
Not a little admiration is caused upon beholding
the weak foundations upon which the providence
of God erected so great a work for the spiritual and
temporal consolation of the poor and wretched peo-
ple, who suffered extreme necessities in this com-
munity. In the beginning of its foundation, so
scarce were the conveniences for obtaining the
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 29
desired fruit of its chief institution that scarcely did
they succeed in remedying the most urgent needs
of their neighbors; but, as it advanced on account
of the liberal hand of God, it commenced, as a
father of charity, to scatter its gifts by means of
worthy benefactors of this house, the first who lib-
erally ennobled and enriched it being the said Don
Luis Perez das Marinas, with the following con-
cessions and alms.
1. The first concession which he conceded to this
brotherhood was three toneladas in the cargo of the
ships which annually voyage to the port of Acapulco
in the kingdom of Nueva Espana, to bring the royal
situado belonging to these islands, the date of its
bestowal being April 30, 1594. It was confirmed
by Don Francisco Tello, governor and captain-
general of these islands, January 24, 1597.
2. The second was of ten shops in the Alcayceria,
the Parian of the Sangleys, its date being August 29,
1595-
3. The third was of an encomienda of eight hun-
dred tributes in the valley of Ytuy, in whose conquest
the said Don Luis was taking part, its date being
April 25, 1596.
4. The fourth was twenty-four young bulls
which the said gentleman applied from his Majesty's
stockfarm as an alms for this venerable brother-
hood.
These concessions were the principal support of
this venerable brotherhood. After them followed
some other alms, which in particular demonstration
of their especial purpose were made by the said
gentleman with the certain knowledge that by so
good direction they would be distributed without the
3° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
slightest delay and proportionally to the need of
each person.
From that instant it appears that the providence
of God pledged itself in moving the hearts of men
so that this so great work should take its greatest
increase by means of the plentiful bequests which
were left to this brotherhood, and funds which were
frequently established as an encouragement of the
pious ends in which its charity was exercised, com-
mitting their best alms and aids for the relief of
fthe necessities of the poor, both families and self-
respecting persons, in the best kind of bonds. The
brotherhood obtained at the same time many trusts
which the faithful administration of wills gained
for it, which were in its charge, by the exact fulfil-
ment which it gave to them. Therefrom there
resulted to this venerable brotherhood the well-
known advantages which immediately resulted to
the benefit of the said poor, whose needs and their
relief were the only object of all its attention.
CHAPTER IV
Of the hospital which this brotherhood founded, and
the Christian and charitable exercises in which it
was occupied.
This venerable brotherhood imagined that it was
lukewarm and neglectful in its love toward its neigh-
bor, so long as it did not manifest it in works pro-
portionate to its greatness. On that account its
charity gave the first flights in the foundation and
erection of a hospital in which poor soldiers were
to be treated. Inasmuch as there was no other in
whom to place the care of this so great need, this
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 3 1
brotherhood attended promptly to so fitting a relief,
building it at the cost of many pesos in 1596, supply-
ing what was possible in so little time, for the erec-
tion of said hospital. In fact, it was obtained with
the happiness which its memory should make famous
three years after its foundation. It gave its first
attention to seeing that it was well provided with
beds, good food, and other things necessary for the
greatest relief of the sick, and secondly, by inquiring
personally and anxiously ascertaining the lodging of
said sick soldiers, so that they might immediately
conduct them to the said hospital of Santa Miseri-
cordia.
So Christian and punctual and careful in their
material treatment of the sick were they that this
venerable brotherhood arranged for three deputies
of the financial board alternately and continuously
to live in the said hospital, for the better care and
management of the medicines, their prompt applica-
tion, and the competent assistance of physician and
surgeon who treated the sick therein, as well as the
good administration and management which they
were to have of the many pesos which were spent
for those pious ends; the seraphic order of our
father St. Francis [had charge] in the spiritual
of the care of their souls with exemplary zeal and
love, by means of one of its religious, a priest, who
was maintained by this brotherhood, and to whom
it gave everything necessary.
Within three years after the foundation of this
hospital, so much had the idea of the charity with
which the sick were treated, and the good manage-
ment which was observed in it, increased, that on
December 3, 1597, his Excellency, Don Juan [i.e.,
32 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Francisco] Tello, governor and captain-general of
these islands, sent to this financial board (which was
then at Santa Potenciana) Doctor Don Antonio de
Morga, who was an auditor of this royal Audiencia,
and his lieutenant-governor and captain-general,
who afterwards merited promotion to the royal
Council of Castilla, to lay before the purveyor and
deputies of the brotherhood that it was quite appar-
ent to all the members of this holy confraternity that,
in order that charity might be good it had to com-
mence by itself ; and accordingly, since this financial
board and all its brothers were exercising the works
of charity and mercy with so great fervor as was
well known, and since they knew the needs that the
hospital of the Spaniards, our brothers, was suffer-
ing, not so much for lack of means as of manage-
ment, wherefore, so great a number of Spaniards
died, and the wealth and means which his Majesty
has given it were not used to advantage : we should
consider it fitting to include that hospital with ours
for the slaves, as was most suitable for us, as it was
of our own nation; and to manage it in the same
manner as ours of the Misericordia, so that the
wealth and means which it had should only be spent
and laid out for the benefit of the sick, and so that
there might be order, concert, and relief, in order
that by this means the so many deaths that occurred
daily therein, because of the poor administration,
order, and lack of relief, might be avoided ; and that
if this financial board and the holy confraternity de-
sired to accept and to take charge of a matter of so
great service to God, our Sovereign, and of his
Majesty, as taking under our charge the manage-
ment of the said hospital by way of charity, his
Lordship, the governor, would be prompt with all
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 33
the power that he possessed and all the means that
he could use to withdraw this board from all indi-
vidual and general risk of giving account now or at
any time of the wealth and possessions of said
hospital, which his Majesty had given it, both as
governor and as patron and manager. If necessary
he would transfer it and resign that office to this
board, and would cause and command that now and
in no time should they be obliged to give account
of what his Majesty had given and assigned to the
said hospital for the support of the sick and the
other expenses connected with it, but that with it
and all that it should have, we should proceed in
the same form and manner as with ours of Miseri-
cordia in accordance with our rules. In regard to
this, the governor would do all that was necessary,
and that his Lordship could do, for he was assured
of the great service that would be performed to God
our Lord; also that the conscience of his Majesty
would be discharged; and that great gain would
come to the community and its citizens. Thus far
the proposition.
On behalf of the board, reply was made that they
would convoke a general chapter of the brother-
hood, in order to inform all the brothers; and that
they would hand in writing to the said doctor what-
ever resulted in regard to this proposition, so that he
might inform the governor without any delay.
In the general chapter of the brotherhood, which
was held December 6, 1597, it was resolved unani-
mously that the management of the said hospital
should be assumed by the board of the Santa Miseri-
cordia, so that both Majesties might be served
therein, provided that the governor fulfilled the
clauses and conditions which were set forth in
34 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
memorial on the part of the purveyor and deputies
of the brotherhood. On their presentation, the
approval of them all resulted. In accordance with
and by virtue of an act and edict of the superior
government, transfer of the said hospital to the pur-
veyor and deputies of the Santa Misericordia became
a reality, being given before the alcalde-in-ordinary,
Don Gaspar Osorio de Moya, and the royal official
judges, then Don Domingo Ortiz de Chagoya, ac-
countant, and Don Francisco de las Missas, factor.
All the above was executed January 3, 1598, and
the board of the Santa Misericordia remained in
possession of the said hospital as will appear more
at length from the papers formed on this point.
This proposition in all its circumstances well
shows the credit which this venerable brotherhood
had negotiated and gained, not only in the estima-
tion of the holy religious orders and the citizens of
this city, but also in the appreciation of the governor,
Don Francisco Tello, who transferred the royal
hospital of the Spaniards with so great satisfaction
and confidence to the care and management of this
board ; for his Lordship believed that by this meas-
ure, he was securing and founding a new estate of
relief, assistance, and aid for the sick Spaniards of
the said hospital, because of the kindness and good
management of so zealous and Christian brothers.
CHAPTER V
Of the disasters which assaulted Manila during the
five years from $QQ to 604; and how the charity
of the brothers of Santa Misericordia shone forth
to the good of their neighbor.
[The years 1599 and the first four of the seven-
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 35
teenth century prove very disastrous for the Philip-
pines, for they are visited by many earthquakes, and
suffer many other losses and misfortunes. The first
earthquake of June 21, 1599, does much damage to
buildings, and it is followed by other disastrous
earthquakes in 1600. This year also are lost the two
ships "Santa Margarita," in the Ladrones, and
"San Geronimo," in Catanduanes; and the raid of
Oliver van Noordt occurs. In 1601, two galleons
are lost in a hurricane -"Santo Thomas" in Cama-
rines on its way from Nueva Espana, and the second
in the shipyard of Panamao near Leyte. Two ships
from Acapulco land at the islands in 1602 with goods
wasted and rotten. In 1603, a fire causes the loss of
more than one million pesos in goods; and the disas-
trous rising of the Chinese also occurs.]
This is a brief sketch of what happened during
the five years in this city of Manila - events which
truly cannot be read without great horror. During
that time the extreme necessity of many poor people
was crying out for relief, especially that of many
women, who were coming from Nueva Espana, and
wretched slaves who because of the rigor of unsatis-
fied hunger were yielding up their lives. A good
proof of this truth is a letter (the original of which
this brotherhood preserves) from his Excellency,
Don Diego Bazquez de Mercado, most worthy
archbishop of the holy cathedral church of this city,
who was promoted from bishop of Campeche to this
church, where he had before been its dean, and had
been at the foundation of this venerable brotherhood
as the ecclesiastical governor of the vacant see of
Don Fray Domingo de Salazar. Its date is August
15, 613, and it was written in duplicate to our most
holy father, Paul Fifth, and is of the following tenor.
3 6 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
[In this letter Vazquez de Mercado informs the
pope of the growth of Christianity in the Philip-
pines, much of which he attributes, in addition to
the work of the religious orders, to the work of the
Santa Misericordia. He asks the pope to confirm
the enclosed rules and regulations of the brother-
hood. He also asks for certain indulgences in order
that the rules may be followed properly.]
During this time of the most cruel miseries and
disasters this venerable brotherhood made a rare
show of the greatest strength of its burning charity,
for it appears that, through this house of the Miseri-
cordia, God erected a new storehouse, well provided
with every remedy for the consolation of invalids,
the relief of prisoners, and the remedy of the sick.
Thus the Misericordia attended promptly to what
it considered most fitting, striving as much as possi-
ble to soften the lamentations and tears of so many
poor people who begged relief in troops for their
extreme need, by distributing among them daily, and
when the cords of hunger pressed them more tightly,
in the public places of this city vast alms, which
exceeded three hundred pesos weekly. At the same
time it took the most vigorous measures for the con-
struction of new infirmaries or rooms, which were
erected after the hospital of the Misericordia, in
order to attend nearer at hand, and with greater and
prompter assistance, the pains, treatment, and relief
of so many poor women who refused to receive them
anywhere else, as well as to the wretched slaves who
were dying of hunger or sickness in the out-of-the-
way places of this city. If this so Christian provi-
sion had been lacking those people could not have
obtained spiritual or temporal consolation.
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 27
With so powerful and Christian an example, this
holy brotherhood moved and attracted all the city,
not only to the imitation of so devout exercises but
also succeeded in getting the free cooperation of
many alms which were distributed for so pious
purposes. All of the city was divided into three
equal parts or wards, so that the deputies of the
board, who were successively occupied in this, might
distribute said alms, and many others which were
given into their own hands in proportion to the
necessity and rank of each one of the families. In
this it was quite evident that the liberal hand of God
was working in order to succor with so great piety
so innumerable miseries. It appears that during the
hard times of those five years, this brotherhood dis-
tributed more than 80,000 pesos to the benefit of all
this community and its poor.
This brotherhood seeing that for the fulfilment
of its principal rule of relieving the necessities of
its neighbor spiritually and physically, the brothers
who composed the board [mesa'] were not sufficient,
thought it advisable to provide that, up to the num-
ber of forty, they should busy themselves in attend-
ing promptly to the greatest necessity that called to
them, in order to furnish the most efficacious relief;
that it would be well to take charge of the poor sick
men and women, and bring them to the hospitals;
that it would be well to gather the dead bodies and
bury them ; that it would be well for the assistance
in hospitals and treatment of the sick, to watch and
find in all the suburbs and wards of this city, the
persons who needed physician, surgeon, and medi-
cines. And upon the instant they gave advice to the
treasurer and almsgivers appointed by the board, so
3^ THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
that they might attend to the most important remedy.
One cannot imagine the work of this venerable
brotherhood during the time of those disasters in
attending to and providing for all the necessities in
the two hospitals of the Spaniards and of the native
soldiers of the country; to the two infirmaries of
poor women, and of wretched slaves ; and to the two
prisons of the court and the city, which were also
dependent upon the assistance and relief which their
charity negotiated for them: since it is certain that
besides the personal work of the brothers, in those
first years, for the above purposes alone, and for
other pious ends, there was spent from the year 599
to that of 650 a sum of more than 540,446 pesos, 7
tomins, which it has been possible to verify in the
short time that I have had for it, and other liquida-
tions that will be set forth hereafter. But this was
done with such accounts and checks on the parts of
treasurer and almsgivers of this house that a strict
monthly or annual residencia was taken from them
by the purveyor and other deputies, the balances
resulting either against or in favor punctually.
Their revision was entrusted to the purveyor and
secretary of the board and immediately they pro-
ceeded to the satisfaction of the said balances of all
parties.
CHAPTER VI
Of the advantages and gains which resulted from the
great alms which were given out by the house of
Santa Misericordia for the common relief of
spiritual and temporal needs.
[The brotherhood has had great influence in the
increase and conservation of the Catholic faith, both
1 7 28-1 7 59] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 39
spiritually and temporally. Many alms have been
given to the religious orders that they might pursue
their work, especially between the years 1600- 1650,
such alms being used for edifices of worship and
other pious purposes. The prisons have been a
special object of care to the brotherhood, for the
prisoners of the two prisons in Manila have been
looked after daily in regard to clothing and other
matters; and an attorney has been paid to conduct
their cases, in order that they might be concluded
at the earliest possible moment. For this more than
one thousand pesos has been spent annually. Alms
have been given to widows to the amount of four,
eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty, and twenty-four reals
weekly; and the same is true of poor soldiers dis-
abled in the royal service in the Philippines and
vicinity, to whom alms are distributed weekly. The
noble families who have been overtaken by adversity
have also been aided, and that so tactfully that the
asking of alms by them has cost no embarrassment.
To them the weekly distribution has amounted to
twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred and more pesos.
The brotherhood has always been careful to inquire
into the morals of those among whom its alms have
been distributed, and evil morals have meant suspen-
sion from the alms-list, to which they have been read-
mitted on reforming. Brothers of the confraternity
found to be leading an evil life have been expelled
from membership until they have given assur-
ances of reform. Especial care has been taken in
relieving members who have fallen into misfortunes.
Orphan girls whose fathers have died in the royal
service in the wars have been sheltered, taught, sup-
ported, and, at marriage, given a dowry. From the
4° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
organization of the brotherhood until 1634, more
than three thousand orphan girls have been so aided.]
CHAPTER VII
Of other works of charity in which this venerable
brotherhood was busied for the benefit of captive
Spaniards and Portuguese, and the alms which it
sent to Japon and other districts, and the devout
exercises in which it busied itself with great profit.
[Silva's expedition against the Dutch who attempt
to raid the islands in 1609 and 1610, which ends in
the defeat of the latter, April 24, 1610 (the leader
of the Dutch being one Francisco Ubiter, who was
with Oliver van Noordt in his battle with the
Spaniards), is a great drain on the community.
The loss of the ship " San Francisco " in Japan,
which left Nueva Espana in July, 1609, means a
great loss to the citizens, and gives the brotherhood
much to do. Those wounded in Silva's wars, up to
the time of his death, April 19, 1616, both Spaniards
and native soldiers, as well as some foreign ones
who participated therein, become a special object
of care to the brotherhood. Many Spanish and
Portuguese captives are redeemed from the Dutch
during this period. The charity of the brotherhood
reaches even to Japan, where the Christians are
being persecuted so unrelentingly at this time.
Lastly, the bones of members of the brotherhood
who have died and been buried in the islands of
Mariveles and Fortuna, and in Playa Honda and
other places are removed thence and buried in the
Manila cathedral.]
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 41
CHAPTER VIII
In which are shown the alms that were distributed
for masses among the sacred religious orders, to
the poor of the prisons, the widows, and orphans,
in dowries, food, and clothing of the daughters of
the brotherhood, etc., from the first years of its
foundation until the years of the great earthquakes
of 645 and later until that of 60; in which are
included other sums which had been paid from
the treasury for the expenses of the building of the
church and college of Santa Isabel and other
pious purposes.
At the time when this venerable brotherhood was
founded with the solemnity and attending circum-
stances that are mentioned in chapter ii, for its bet-
ter management and government, various chapters
of rules were formed. One of them was that all the
brothers in the wills that they signed were obliged
to leave some alms to the brotherhood. With such
a beginning which gave prestige to the works of this
house, the brothers tried to have their wills ready
before they started for the undertakings or conquests
that were undertaken during that period. Hence
resulted the foundations of various works, whose
capitals were invested in annuities with most secure
bonds and from their rent a great part of the alms
which this house distributes, thus giving fulfilment
to their pious purposes. Besides this, they also
ordered in their wills other sums to be distributed
at the discretion of the board, and they were applied
as a relief for the necessities of the poor, for this
brotherhood in the administration of the many
works under its charge has not pretended to extract
42 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
other fruit than that of serving God by relieving
and succoring the miseries and hardships of its
neighbor, exercising itself continually in the fulfil-
ment of works of charity.
From the first years of foundation until that of
1650, it appears that in the pious assignment of alms
for the missions of Japon, in masses which have been
said by the sacred orders, in the church of the Santa
Misericordia, in alms for the religious communi-
ties, in repairs of their convents, in relief for poor
widows, in dowries for the girls of the schools and
other poor girls of the community, in their food and
clothing, and in other things, this venerable brother-
hood has distributed and spent 107,125 pesos, 4
tomins, 3 granos, which have been earned and pro-
duced by the capitals of the funds invested at inter-
est. I surely believe that this house is one of the
precious stones which most beautify the crown of the
king, our sovereign. But, in every way, the para-
graph which follows is of more value.
In these times and those extending to the year 660,
in which the sums of pesos which entered into this
house were very great, due to the liberality of illus-
trious benefactors (among the least not being those
assigned by the governors of these islands, Don Luis
Perez das Marinas, Don Francisco Tello, Don Juan
de Silva, Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, and
Don Sabiniano Manrrique de Lara), the sum of
356,363 pesos, 3 tomins, which the book of the treas-
urer for those years gives as data, was reached. In
that time there were many wills which were fulfilled
by this venerable brotherhood; and there were not
few bequests and alms which were given to it,
especially by the will of the alguacil-mayor, Don
Bartholome Thenorio, who left special memories in
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 43
this house, the last being a principal of twenty
thousand pesos which still remain while the interest
therefrom from the year 702 until the present time is
more than twenty-five thousand.
CHAPTER IX
In which are shown in separate items the supple-
ments of reals which the house of Santa Miseri-
cordia has given to the royal treasury of this city,
during the periods of its greatest poverty and
necessity , occasioned both by the raids which have
been made in these islands by the Dutch enemy
and for re enforcements and fortifications of this
royal camp and of other presidios of the royal
crown from the year 6lQ until that of J26 for the
service of his Majesty (whom may God preserve
for many years) .
[The royal treasury reaches a state of exhaustion
in 1619 because of the inroads of the Dutch, who
harry the Spanish presidios and forts. In this year
Governor Alonso Faxardo is compelled to ask a loan
of the brotherhood, for which he offers good secu-
rity. That loan is unanimously voted by the purveyor
and deputies, on April 4, 1619, and amounts to
39,599 pesos, 5 tomins.]
October 6, 638, it also appears from a certification
of the royal officials that they gave to the royal treas-
ury by way of loan 104,609 pesos, 2 tomins, 1 grano,
while Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera was
governor and captain-general of these islands, as a
relief for the necessity therein, and the prosecution
of the conquest of Jolo and the supplies of war which
would be required for its total conclusion.
It also appears by another certificate that on July
44 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
3, 643, the purveyor and deputies of the Miseri-
cordia paid 57,468 pesos, 2 tomins by way of a loan,
by virtue of an order of the said governor, to attend
to the necessities of the treasury. And inasmuch as
in the said year, because of his Lordship having
before received a royal decree under date of June 28
of the year 635, he wrote to this board a letter [Janu-
ary 28, 1643] 2 which is conserved in the original
with many others of all appreciation, we believe it
advisable to give it here, its tenor being as follows :
[In this letter Corcuera cites the royal decree
above mentioned which orders general prayers said
in all the churches of the islands for the success of
Spanish arms. The governor has written to all the
bishops and to the provincials of the religious orders
asking the command to be observed in their churches.
He asks the Misericordia to have a mass said in its
church every Friday for the perpetual memory of
the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that the
Spanish pretensions may prevail.]
It also appears that in the year 643, forty- five
thousand pesos which came as part of the register
from Nueva Espana, belonging to the property of
the said Don Bartholome Thenorio, were embargoed
in the royal treasury at the petition of Dona Ana de
Zarate, his sister-in-law, and although the members
of the royal Audiencia declared the said sum as
free and its delivery due to the board of the Santa
Misericordia, as it was his executor, yet by certain
results which the fiscal of his Majesty made, it
remained in the said royal treasury until its liquida-
tion, and lastly, by way of loan until the year 705,
2 See other letters from Corcuera to the Misericordia, dated
in 1637 and 1639 respectively, in our vol. xxix, pp. 172-174.
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 45
in which the final balance of the said sum was paid
from the royal treasury, in order to fulfil the will of
the said deceased.
It likewise appears by the reports and certifica-
tions of the royal officials, that from the year 643
and upward, there were paid into the royal treasury
by order of Governors Don Sebastian Hurtado de
Corcuera and Don Diego Faxardo, 76,231 pesos 4
tomins, from the board of Santa Misericordia by
way of loan. And although his Majesty (whom
may God preserve) was pleased to order (by virtue
of the representations given by the board) through
his royal decree of March 8, 660, his Excellency,
the viceroy of Nueva Espana, to pay the said sum
given to the royal treasury in six payments of 12,305
pesos, 2 tomins, it was impossible to collect the said
sum in these islands; for although the remissions of
the said payments were made by his said Excellency
as an item in the register for the satisfaction which
was to be given to the board of Santa Misericordia,
they were retained in the royal treasury of this city
from the year 663 until that of 666 in order to succor
the necessity of the city, during a period of so many
disasters. Consequently, this new loan amounted to
61,526 pesos, 2 tomins, and both together amounted
to 137,757 pesos, 6 tomins, which were employed in
matters of the royal service and the benefit of these
islands.
It also appears by another certification, that in the
year 650, 13,740 pesos were embargoed in the royal
treasury which had come consigned as a part of the
register to the board of Santa Misericordia, belong-
ing to the property of the alguacil-mayor, Don Bar-
tholome Thenorio, by virtue of an order from Don
4 ^ THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Diego Faxardo, on an occasion when the royal treas-
ury was suffering so great necessity.
It also appears from another certification, and
royal provision despatched by the said governor,
which was announced for this board March 1, 653,
in which his Lordship represents the great need of
the treasury of his Majesty with the lack of rein-
forcements from Nueva Espafia; that although exact
efforts had been made, on account of the general
poverty which all the citizens of this city, as was
well known, were suffering, it had been impossible to
remedy, not even to the extent that was necessary, so
that it might endure so serious a lack; and that be-
cause it was very fitting for the service of his Majesty
to seek all the possible means which might exist, so
that the said royal treasury should have money with
which to succor the infantry of this royal army, until
our sovereign should deign to bring the royal situado
of these islands ; for the present he ordained etc. : in
consequence of which the board of the Misericordia
paid 70,601 pesos, 4 tomins to the said royal treas-
ury, with which sum it remedied for the time being
its present necessity.
Lastly, it is well known that in the year 726, his
Excellency, Don Thoribio Joseph Miguel de Cosio
y Campa, knight of the Order of Calatrava, and
governor and captain-general of these islands, and
president of the royal Chancilleria of them, finding
himself in great necessity of means to succor the need
of the royal treasury on the occasion of the loss of
the galleon " Santo Christo de Burgos," with the
profits of this trade, on the coast of the island of
Ticao, on account of a storm which forced it to
beach on the night of July 23 of the said year; and
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 47
upon his Lordship, the Marquis, seeing himself
forced to take most prompt measures for the cutting
of timber for the new ship which was built in the
royal shipyard of the port of Cavite, for the supplies
of the royal army of this camp, and for many other
inexcusable expenses, notwithstanding that the com-
merce of these islands was weak and its citizens in a
time of the greatest necessity, because of various
supplies and gifts made to his Majesty in order to
succor the need of the said royal treasury: neverthe-
less, the said marquis was obliged to solicit by other
means the things necessary for the fulfilment of the
royal service, and universal welfare of these islands,
by having recourse to the house of Santa Misericor-
dia in order to obtain forty thousand pesos, which
were supplied without prejudice to the regular
works of the house, and were made from some
deposits which could be detained in their treasury
until the arrival of the royal situado which was
expected from Nueva Espafia. He offered to pay
them promptly under the royal word; by virtue of
which, and the Christian efforts which preceded
from one and the other parties, the said board sup-
plied 33,641 pesos, 7 tomins, to the royal treasury,
so that it might in part be freed from its greatest
necessity. As soon as the royal situado of his
Majesty had safely arrived at these islands his Lord-
ship, the marquis, kept the word which he had
promised by giving entire satisfaction to the board
of the Santa Misericordia, in the full delivery of
the said sum.
As a conclusion of all the loans made to his
Majesty by the house of Santa Misericordia, will
serve that which it made in the year 646 to the royal
4 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
treasury of these islands, when its governor and
captain-general was Don Diego Faxardo, on the
occasion when they were rumored to be surrounded
by necessities and when the Dutch enemy was at
the entrances of Marivelez, as he showed in a letter
which he wrote the said board on September 12, 646,
which is of the following tenor.
[In this letter Diego Faxardo thanks the brother-
hood for the loan of ten thousand odd pesos which
it made to the royal treasury on this occasion. All
the loans between the years 1619-1726 have
amounted to 2,449,418 pesos, 2 tomins, 1 grano. In
addition, the Santa Misericordia has paid into the
royal treasury between 1629- 1695, as executor for
deceased persons, 14,777 pesos, 2 tomins, 3 granos.]
CHAPTER X
In which is given public satisfaction in behalf of this
brotherhood for a chapter of a manifesto which
has been published denouncing the rectitude and
faithful administration of the brothers; and it is
proved that the annuities of the house of the
Misericordia not only are not lost, as is supposed,
but that, on the contrary, they are in much better
condition than at any other time.
[A manifesto published against the brotherhood
charges lack of business ability and neglect in the
handling of its funds, so that much of the money
entrusted to it has been lost; and proposes that
the brotherhood be made subject to inspection by the
authorities - by the ecclesiastical ordinary, if the as-
sociation be considered a pious body, or by the ordin-
ary with a royal minister, if the association be
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 49
regarded as under royal protection. Discussing the
manifesto our author shows that the affairs of
the brotherhood have never been more prosperous.
As compared with the religious orders, their capitals
and the returns therefrom show better results, and
not nearly so many arrears. The brothers are good
managers and look after their business carefully.
Those who have been benefited by the brotherhood
are so numerous that there are but few in the com-
munity who have not been helped. From the year
1677 when the first fund was established, the
brotherhood has distributed 657,383 pesos, 6 tomins,
6 granos. The purposes for which this sum has been
applied are for masses for souls in purgatory, alms
for the religious orders and royal colleges, dowries
to poor girls, alms to widows, prisoners, and con-
fraternities and their processions, aid to the sick,
and for divine worship, the support and clothing of
its collegiate daughters, support for women in
retreat, and aid for the buildings of their house
and chaplaincies, etc. The complaints against the
brotherhood have emanated from those who have
not obtained all the aid that they desired because
their credit is not sufficiently good. If the brother-
hood attempt to please everyone they will end by
pleasing no one. No partiality is shown, but affairs
are managed in a businesslike manner. Even were
the brotherhood subject to inspection, it could act
with no greater rectitude.]
CHAPTER XI
In which a relation is given of the government and
order observed by the house of the Santa Miseri-
5° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 4 7
cordia in the administration of the funds under its
charge, and the dependencies annexed to them.
The alms which it gives regularly from one year
to another, when there are no shipwrecks, and the
account which is given annually in it.
I do not believe that any of the many houses of the
Misericordia throughout Christendom, can be de-
clared to be governed with better rules or have
better accounts than that of this city of Manila. I
am not speaking without sufficient foundation, since
I have read with special attention the great order
which rules in the house of the capital of Lisboa.
That house is the mother and pattern and source of
them all, to whose teaching this faithful daughter
of hers, not only has not kept its great talents which
I expect from her zealous care, idle, but also has
been able ingeniously to exceed her in the pious in-
dulgences of increasing and treasuring up more
copious annual reinforcements for the relief of the
needs of her neighbor.
I am very certain that this truth would run no
danger amid the extensive shoals of self-love, for it
navigates governed by the demonstrable reality
which removes all kind of doubt; it is current
knowledge that the alms which are annually dis-
tributed by the royal house of Santa Misericordia of
Lisboa amount to forty thousand pesos more or less ;
but it is not less well-known and certain that those
distributed by this house of Manila, when no ship-
wreck happens, or other misfortunes, amount on the
average to seventy thousand pesos annually, making
one mass of the benefit which the funds of the sea
yield, in addition to those which are produced by
those which are founded in bonds, possessions,
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 5 1
monopoly, encomienda of his Majesty, chaplaincies
of which he is patron, and other sources of wealth
which are added to the huge mass of the said sum.
This truth is so well known to all this city that it
needs no further support than the same certainty in
which it is founded.
The order with which this house of Santa Miseri-
cordia is governed is that on November 21, the day
of the presentation of our Lady, the Virgin Mary,
and the day on which the brothers who have formed
the board for that year, and which begins the elec-
tion of other new members, the election is made by
ten electors, whom all the brotherhood appoint, in
the manner provided by our rules. They number in
all thirteen brothers, the first being the new pur-
veyor. [Next are the] secretary and the treasurer,
the latter being the one who was secretary the pre-
vious year, who remains in that office in order to give
account of the dependencies and affairs of the house
since he has handled them all most intimately. After
the above are the majordomo of the chapel, the gen-
eral manager of the house, and all annexed to it;
majordomo of prisoners; steward of the dish in
which the alms are collected; while the rest of the
brothers are occupied in other important duties of
the house, such as visits of the treasury and of the
prisons, the distributions of alms, secret investiga-
tions which are committed to them by the board, and
others of like tenor.
So great is the authority and power of the pur-
veyor of the house over all the brothers of the Santa
Misericordia, and so prompt the obedience of the
brothers, that it rather seems a well-ordered com-
munity of religious than of seculars, for the first
52 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
thing which they swear on the holy gospels when
they join the brotherhood is to well and faithfully
observe the rules of the brotherhood, and that when-
ever they are summoned by the purveyor and coun-
cilors of the board, and should hear the signal of
the bells, they will go thither promptly, if there is
no legitimate hindrance that they can see. The pur-
veyor may, when in the board, command, agree,
vote, talk, and keep silence, whenever he pleases.
He can command a board meeting called, and a gen-
eral meeting of the brotherhood at the advice of the
deputies, appointing the day which he considers
best. He may transfer the board and apportion
among the brothers of it the duties of collector of
alms, and visitors of the prisons. He may remove
the chaplains if they commit any notable error in his
presence, as well as the servants of the board, and the
rectress or portress of the college when he thinks
best. He may proceed to the correction and fitting
punishment of the collegiates by means of the
rectress when they deserve it, and he may (which is
more than all the rest) remove with the advice of
the councilors of the board those brothers who are
disobedient and break the rules of the brotherhood.
He may remove those who violate their privileges
and those who live after a scandalous manner, if
having been warned three times they do not turn
over a new leaf. He may appoint others in their
place, so that they may serve God our Lord in this
His house. Finally, he may (although I do not) do
many other things which limit of space does not per-
mit me to write here.
The seven deputies who are named above with
determined duties shall receive from their predeces-
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 53
sors the books of which each one of them has had
charge, in order to enter therein the new accounts
of debit and credit of all that which shall be given
into their power in the course of the year, and all
that shall be disbursed in order to fulfil the pious
ends which are entrusted to them. This having been
inferred, I say that the first thing which is asked by
the new board from the new purveyors is to take
charge of the girls' school, which is managed accord-
ing to past custom with allowances and expenses
which are occasioned with it in the food and cloth-
ing of all the girls, the salaries of the rectress and
portress, and other servants who are employed in it.
And having accepted this duty, he goes ahead to
arrange the provisions of rice, oil, and sugar, and
other substances increased in times of the greatest
cheapness and advantage; for whose constancy in
the new account which is opened in the book of ex-
penses of the purveyors, he sets down monthly the
expense which is made in each one of them, and in
this way he proceeds in all those of the year, placing
each item down separately and procuring that the
expenses shall not be increased unless there be a
greater number of girls or wards, and, at the end of
the year, he presents the book with his account. Its
examination and review is entrusted to the present
secretary, who balances it, either in favor or against,
and having set forth the balanced part, the said sec-
retary places his approval at the bottom of it and
signs it, and enters it in the minutes of that day so
that it may stand forth for all time.
The secretary of the board on whom devolves the
greater part of the work has his new record book in
which are entered all the despatches of the petitions
54 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
which are presented, the distributions which are
made, and the applications of the alms, both of
dowry for the schoolgirls, and the orphan girls out-
side [the school], the salaries which are paid to the
chaplains of the house, the portress and the servants
of the house, and the alms of the masses of Alva, 9
and 11, which are said in our church on all feast-
days. Especially with great care does he enter the
two inspections or general balances, which are struck
at the beginning and end of each board, of all the
sums of pesos, both of current funds, of dowries and
alms, and of deposits which are contained in the
treasury under separate headings, in order to apply
them to the purposes which their founders assigned
by full directions. He affixes his rubric to the
memoranda which are in the sacks, with the state-
ment of what each one contains, with the day, month,
and year of the record in which they are set down.
The writing of all the above with his own hand is
an operation so indispensable to his obligation that
he is obliged to do it under oath. In case of his ab-
sence, the same is done by the treasurer who supplies
his absences by writing in a separate book whatever
occurs in regard to the business matters of the house.
And as soon as the secretary takes charge of the cur-
rent despatch of the house, he is obliged to transfer
to his book whatever shall have been decreed during
his absence, so that by such a proceeding all that
which belongs to the record of that year may be
found in one volume. He is also obliged to enter all
the sums of pesos which are received in the treasury
in the books prepared for them, both of the dues col-
lected and the usufruct which are yielded by the sea
funds, besides the great number of very troublesome
collections, although the love of God makes them
1 7 28- 1 7 59] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 55
mild and easy, to whomever works for the welfare of
his neighbor and the preservation of this house.
He is also obliged to adjust the appointments of
the chaplains of the many chaplaincies of which the
board of the Santa Misericordia is patron, by virtue
of which, and of those presented as said chaplains, a
collation of the chaplaincies has always been given
to them so far as it concerns them, and the fitting
support has been decreed and given as a relief for
their poverty. In this there is no other consideration,
either in this court or in other superior courts, but it
is passed upon before the said secretary just as in the
house of Lisboa, which has as a special privilege
that the secretaries of the said house may give attesta-
tions in all and any court.
The treasurer, who has charge of the possessions
of the Parian of the Sangleys, attends to the collec-
tion of their rents, and the distribution of the alms,
which are distributed every Saturday throughout
the year to the self-respecting poor at the door of the
house of the Santa Misericordia; and also the alms
in pesos for the masses which are said throughout all
the months of the year by one of the chaplains of the
house for the soul of the founder, who endowed it
with the said possessions. And in the book which is
delivered to him with the enumeration and individ-
ual account of the places and location of said pos-
sessions and of the purposes for so charitable a
foundation, the said treasurer enters the debit and
credit account of all the sums which are received
monthly and are disbursed by them, collecting re-
ceipts of them all for the account which must be
given at the end of the year, which passes in review
and must be balanced like the other accounts.
The treasurer is also the one who is present at the
5° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
time of the two inspections or general balances of
the treasurer. If between the last of the board
which has just ended and the new one which is
formed for its government there is any difference be-
cause of some quantity of pesos having been drawn
in the interim, for any purpose for which it has
fallen due, he gives prompt account thereof by the
vouchers made and that appear from the preceding
record book and by his receipts. In this way he con-
tinues until the conclusion of the said general review,
which is generally the first thing. Following, other
important points are begun by the new board with-
out any confusion arising.
The chapel steward receives in inventory all that
belongs to the church and its sacristy, with the aid
of the chaplain-in-chief of the house, from the act-
ing secretary of the board, and the past steward.
In his presence, the list is formed item by item in
the book of inventories, and is received by the acting
steward, and when it is completed to the satisfaction
of all, the four sign it, and it is placed in the first
record so that it may stand forever. He has also
another separate book of the new expenses, which
are made in the church, sacristy, and other things in
his charge in the course of the year. In it he forms
the debit and credit account in minute detail, and at
the end of the year he presents the book; proceed-
ing to his resolution with the same solemnity as the
others whom we have mentioned.
The attorney-general who attends to all the busi-
ness and interests of the house (except those of the
annuities which have a separate attorney with a paid
advocate) receives in the book of suits all those
which the preceding board left pending, and also
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA S7
the writs and other papers which are to be in his
charge for that year. For the better direction, man-
agement, and outcome of said suits, an intelligent
advocate is appointed for him to whom he may
apply in all his doubts. And in all that which he
does in pursuance of this order, he gives account in
all the board meetings which are regularly held
semi-weekly. A secretary, who keeps the keys of the
archives, is obliged to give him all the documents
that he asks for, and shall keep a record of the with-
drawal of such.
He also has another book, in which he enters in
alphabetical order the accounts of the funds, the
costs belonging to each one, which are caused in
prosecution of the said suits, the signature of writs
and the cancellations [chancelaciones~\ of them.
Later he forms from them the general debit and
credit account in which he places the salaries of advo-
cate, procurator, and attorney in the royal Audiencia
with the other expenses which belong to the said mat-
ters. At the end of the year, he presents it, and with
it the fitting obligation of review, balances, and ap-
proval is made, as in all those above mentioned. But
independently of this, he shows the book of current
suits, writs, and other papers. Having been com-
pared by the secretary, with the statement of those
which were given to him at the beginning of the year,
and of those which were given to him from the ar-
chives in his term, if the whole thing agrees, he is
absolved from his charge, but in no other manner
until the total fulfilment.
The steward of prisoners has in charge the collec-
tions of the possession of the sites of the paddy-fields,
whose usufruct is distributed half and half in the
5 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
two prisons of the court, and of the city, for the sup-
port of the poor prisoners, and the other half in the
hospital of the Misericordia, which is in charge of
the religious of St. John of God, as a relief for sick
men and women. Besides this relief, which is
monthly, they share other large alms which are fur-
nished from other funds administered by the house
of the Misericordia. In his book of the said posses-
sions, with the statement of their purposes, he forms
his account of debit and credit, and, at the time of
its presentation, gives his discharge by the receipts
which he collects from the wardens of said prisons.
That is generally, or always, executed with the
knowledge of the minister who has charge of the in-
spection of the prisons and the relief of the needs
experienced therein.
The steward of the dish in which the alms are
collected is obliged to send it every fortnight to two
brothers of this venerable brotherhood, so that on
Sunday they may go out to collect alms in all the
public parts of this city. They having observed this
measure, return the dish and the alms to the said
steward. The latter, observing the same rule
throughout the months of the year, draws up his
debit and credit account. The alms which he de-
clares before the board are equal in sum to those
which have been collected, according as it appears.
In that conformity it is approved, the same measures
as before with the others having preceded.
This is the government, order, and method which
the house of the Santa Misericordia has maintained
faithfully, with the punctual assistance and encour-
agement of the zealous, disinterested Christians.
They are the work of its brothers, whose powerful
example in the faithful administration of the funds
1 7 28-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 59
entrusted to them has enabled them to obtain ex-
emption from inspection of their house until the
present time. They are today more assured than
ever by dint of royal decrees, the first dated Madrid,
September 7, 1699; in which his Majesty resolves
and declares that this brotherhood, in order that it
may be maintained and continue its exercises with
more encouragement, shall not be subject to visits by
the ordinaries, archbishops, provisors in vacant see,
or by any other ecclesiastical minister, and that it
shall be allowed to make use as hitherto of its good
government and to observe its rules and ordinances.
And in the same vein is another decree given in
Buen Retiro, under date of June 11, 1708, in which
his Majesty also resolves that the decree above
inserted be kept, fulfilled, and executed, exactly ac-
cording to the terms expressed therein, and that no
embarrassment or obstacle be opposed or permitted
to be opposed to the fulfilment of its contents, as
such is his royal will. In that one can see clearly
how, having been well informed, his Majesty ap-
proves the good government of this house and the
practice of its rules and ordinances. This is the
greatest intent of this chapter, and we leave the rest
so that the parties may discuss it in or out of court.
CHAPTER XII
In which are recounted the new hardships which
came upon these islands between the years 620
and 6$4> both because of the invasions of the
Dutch enemy therein and because of the putting
back and loss of ships, which happened in this
period; and the devout exercises and alms of the
house of Santa Misericordia.
[In this period four ships put back and two are
6o THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
almost completely lost. The Dutch, however, prove
the worst thorn from which the islands suffer, for
they invade all parts of the Spanish colonies of the
Orient. The brotherhood, during this time, works
with unexampled energy in its measures for the pub-
lic relief, and its work among the hospitals. In this
time, too, it builds the school of Santa Isabel from
certain bequests, spending in these and other things,
176,910 pesos, 6 tomins, 10 granos. In 1632, a new
branch of the Misericordia is formed in Formosa,
which is taken under the protection of the one in
Manila. The latter sends the new branch 5,065
pesos, 5 tomins, 9 granos, as an aid to it in its work.
The brotherhood also treats for the ransom of Do-
mingo Vilancio, S.J., and Fray Juan de San Joseph,
a Recollect, who are captives in Jolo, and for which
five hundred pesos are expended. Although the
former dies, before his ransom, that of the latter is
effected. For two hundred pesos, one Pedro Del-
gado is ransomed in Japan, the ransom money being
sent by way of Macao.]
CHAPTER XIII
In which notice is given of the conclusion of
the costly building of the church and school of
Santa Isabel, and the removal thither of the girls
whom this brotherhood had in that of Santa Po-
tenciana, and in other private houses where they
lived in retirement and with their devout exercises
distributed through the hours of the day.
It was the year 634, in which the brotherhood of
the Santa Misericordia saw their desires fulfilled in
the conclusion of the costly building of the church
and school of Santa Isabel, for the commodious
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 6 1
housing of the many daughters whom they were
maintaining in the school of Santa Potenciana and
other private houses of shelter, at the expense of
many pesos which it expended for the pious ends of
their clothing, dowries, and other like things ; when
the removal of them all to the new school was ar-
ranged with especial joy and gladness of all this city.
[The opening of the school is marked by great
ceremonies, the chief event being the procession
which is participated in by the brotherhood and the
girls of the school under the leadership of the rec-
tress, Cathalina de Aguirre. At the new church
various exercises are held.]
The girls of this school have always been orphan
girls, for the most part daughters of parents of rank
and of many merits and services to the king our sov-
ereign, who in the first days lost their lives in the
service of his Majesty. They continually praise
God with the general example to this city begging
his Majesty for the greater conservation of the Span-
ish monarchy and that of these islands and their
fields of Christendom. They often frequent the holy
sacraments, the holy Society of Jesus having prece-
dence in the task of confessing them. They spend
four hours in the choir by day and night, and are
occupied in hearing mass and reciting their devo-
tions. They are employed by day in the work of
sewing and helping in the kitchen, for which pur-
pose two of them are chosen weekly, both so that the
food may be cooked with neatness and so that they
may learn how to take care of and manage a house.
They are under the charge of a rectress, and the
rectresses have always been persons of great virtue
and example. They have a portress who takes care
62 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
of the porter's lodge, as well as of the actions and
decorum of the said collegiate daughters when they
call them below. On Fridays during Lent they
meditate and think over the devout exercises of the
Via cruets inside the school. At night they recite the
rosary in a chorus to the queen of the angels and at
the stroke of half-past nine, taps sound and silence
reigns. They all sleep together in one single, capa-
cious, decent, and neat dormitory. They eat in the
refectory and have a lesson out of spiritual books.
During Lent they listen in the choir to the sermons
which are preached in the church of said school on
Monday mornings, as well as to the explanation of
the Christian doctrine on Sunday afternoons. Those
who have charge of so holy a work are those of the
holy Society of Jesus, at the request of this board.
Finally, since the chapters of the rules of the said
school are many and various, they are omitted for
the present, inasmuch as the limit of time does not
allow anything else.
The brothers of this venerable brotherhood, be-
sides the festivities and functions which our ordi-
nances provide, annually attend the said church on
the day of the glorious apostles St. Philip and
St. James, and the following: in the first to cele-
brate the feast with greater solemnity for the health
of their Majesties and the increase and conservation
of their kingdoms and domains; and in the second,
to celebrate the obsequies and honors for the de-
ceased kings. For the greater concurrence, author-
ity, and luster of so royal a function, all the sacred
orders are invited and are punctually present. A
catafalque of the size demanded by such an act is
erected and on it are placed the royal insignias, and
1 728-1 7 59] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 63
a great quantity of wax, and the vigil mass and re-
sponse are chanted, accompanied by the best music
that can be found, in order thereby to make a rare
showing of loyalty and love by this demonstration
of piety and acknowledgment, which this venerable
brotherhood has always had, and has for its kings
and sovereigns.
CHAPTER XIV
Of the number of girls whom this venerable brother-
hood has supported since its foundation until the
present time; and the report of the expenses
caused by the said girls during all that time; also
[the expenses^ in the church of Santa Isabel in
their charge, and other particulars.
[Those helped by the brotherhood are the hospi-
tal of St. John of God, of which the board of
the brotherhood is patron; the house of women
sheltered by the ecclesiastical judge of this arch-
bishopric; the religious orders; the public prisons;
destitute widows; orphan girls; and all poor beg-
gars. But most of all the school of Santa Isabel is
eloquent in its praises, for since 1634, the brother-
hood has helped 13,270 girls, scholars, wards,
women, and other persons. Many girls it has sent
to swell the ranks of the Order of St. Clara, while
many have been married, for whom a dowry has
always been provided. The sum of 508,916 pesos,
4 tomins, 3 granos, has been spent in this work.
From its foundation until 1634, the brotherhood has
helped many girls in the school of Santa Potenciana,
maintaining besides many girls in private families.
The number of such girls exceeds seven thousand,
many of whom have embraced the religious life,
64 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
while others have married, a dowry being furnished
to these latter. They have never refused to shelter
abandoned children, for whom they have cared ten-
derly, teaching them and sending them into the life
for which they are fitted.]
The spiritual welfare must not be passed by in
silence, which has been and is being obtained for all
this city, from the time of the erection of the church
called Santa Misericordia. There, every Sunday,
and day of observance, three masses are specially
said : the first between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morn-
ing, from which follows the spiritual consolation
which the poor share, who, by their necessity and
poverty, cannot succeed in hearing it if it is not held
at such an hour; the second, at nine o'clock in the
morning, which is attended by the majority of this
city; and the third at eleven, so that the poor slaves
and servants of this city, after concluding their
domestic tasks, may attend it without failing in what
pertains to their obligation. Besides the above,
there are many which are daily celebrated in the
said church, where on many occasions of the year
there is generally an open collectorship of masses,
which are said with the alms which the funds of this
house produce.
The expenses of this church in all that pertains to
divine worship and other functions which are fre-
quent, both of the interment of brothers, of their
wives, and firstborn, and honors which are shown
them, both in attendance on those executed, their
burial, and other charitable exercises in which this
brotherhood is employed, exceed 118,438 pesos, 3
tomins, since the time of its foundation. It excels in
the adornment of its temple and in the neatness and
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 65
glory of the things of divine worship and in that of
the priestly ornaments, and other things. This is all
in charge of a deputy of the board, who is annually
appointed as chapel steward, so that by the attention
and care which he gives, it may all be done in a fit-
ting manner, without there being any omission, and
so that there may be no falling off of observance in
said church and its sacristy.
[In addition the brotherhood distributes 25 or 30
pesos weekly to the Japanese beatas of San Miguel;
and 3 pesos apiece to certain poor collegiates called
"Sons of the Board [mesa] of Santa Misericordia,"
who are attending San Juan de Letran. This latter
sum is given to the president of the college, who
looks after their education.]
CHAPTER XV
In which are mentioned the various events in these
islands by land and sea during the years 6j$-
645) and supplies given to the royal treasury, and
devout exercises of the brothers of the Santa
Misericordia.
[In 1635, no ship sails for Nueva Espana "for
reasons of state, or decisions of Governor Sebastian
Hurtado de Corcuera." Although a ship does
reach Acapulco in 1637, the citizens of the Philip-
pines are not much benefited thereby, for the goods
are all embargoed at Acapulco, contrary to the usual
custom, because of certain strict edicts, and all
appraised at four times their value, the consequent
duties being very heavy. During this period also
occurs the disastrous loss of the island of Formosa.
The islands are offered some cheer by the happy
66 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
successes of Corcuera in his Jolo campaign, which
is begun in 1637. Before going on this campaign,
he writes the brotherhood, under date of December
4, asking its prayers for the success of his under-
taking. At the end of the expedition, the brother-
hood generously gives the royal treasury a loan of
104,609 pesos, 2 tomins, 1 grano. A letter from
Corcuera October 26, 1639, t0 tne brotherhood asks
it to take charge of the conversion of two of the
Moro hostages who have been brought from Jolo;
all the religious orders also having been asked to do
the same. The flagship "Concepcion" is lost in the
Ladrones in 1638 on its way to Acapulco; and in
the following year, the two ships from Nueva Es-
pana, on the Cagayan coast. From the end of 1639
to the beginning of 1640, the city passes through a
hard time with the great danger arising from the
Chinese revolt. The poor are troublesome for there
are many of them, and the brotherhood is compelled
to labor diligently. To relieve the necessities of the
royal treasury, the sum of 102,468 pesos, 2 tomins is
lent it, on the occasion of the loss of the galleon,
"Encarnacion" on the Mindoro shoals while on its
way to Ternate with reinforcements.]
CHAPTER XVI
Of the great earthquakes of the year 1645, and the
events that happened therein; losses of the house
of the Misericordia in the works in its charge, and
the adjustment of the losses of its investments,
which were imposed on the houses demolished, in
virtue of a general compromise.
[The first shock of the earthquake that occurs
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 67
on November 30, 1645, is followed by .many other
shocks more or less severe. By the general apprais-
als made of the losses the Misericordia is declared
in 1648 to have had 89,855 pesos invested in houses,
of which only material worth 23,177 pesos, 2 tomins,
6 granos is saved, the loss thus being 66,677 pesos,
5 tomins, 6 granos. The brotherhood further loses
2,739 pesos, 6 tomins, 2 granos, for the tearing down
of ruined walls, and spends 7,725 pesos, 2 tomins, 8
granos for the rebuilding of the ruined houses, the
total loss thus amounting to 77,142 pesos, 6 tomins,
4 granos. Thus the final assets of the brotherhood
on the old investment are 12,712 pesos, 1 tomin, 8
granos. However, the real value of the investment
of the association amounts to 159,365 pesos more. A
capital of 69,510 pesos which is invested in stock-
farms and farming lands of the religious orders
is fortunately saved. Between the years 1634- 1660
the sum distributed by the Misericordia amounts
to 220,770 pesos, 1 tomin; and between 1 637-1 651,
72,948 pesos, 7 tomins, 6 granos. After the earth-
quake the brotherhood rebuilds its church, college,
and the hospitals for the natives, poor women, and
slaves of the city. In addition, it gives 400 pesos
toward the rebuilding of the cathedral; 300 pesos
for repairs on the Franciscan convent; 100 pesos for
repairs on the chapel of San Antonio of the tertiary
branch of the said order located in the church of
their convent; 150 pesos to Fray Christoval del Cas-
tillo, definitor of the Franciscan order (40 of them
to be used for his support and that of the religious
in his charge in the hospital for the natives, and no
pesos for pious works and grave necessities, namely,
aid in ransoming a Recollect religious who has been
68 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
captured by the Joloans) ; 200 pesos to the father
procurator of the Recollects; 200 pesos to Fray
Juan de San Antonio, provincial of the said order;
and lastly many alms to all the needy of the com-
munity.]
CHAPTER XVII
Of other new misfortunes which occurred in these
islands from the year 646 to that of 673; loans
given by the Board of Santa Misericordia to the
royal treasury, and the great alms which it gave
during that time; and the transfer of the hospital
of the house to the religious of St. John of God.
[In the years 1637 and 1659 memorials are sent to
Spain of the wretched condition of the islands, occa-
sioned by frequent invasions, insurrections, repeated
loss of ships, and exorbitant royal duties charged in
Acapulco. The ships lost are the following: in
1646, the galleon "San Luis," on the Cagayan coast,
when coming from Nueva Espafia, and the galleon
"Nuestra Senora de Buena Esperanza" on the island
of Negros, while returning from taking reinforce-
ments to Ternate; in 1648, the ship "Buen Jesus" is
burned on its return from Nueva Espafia in Lam-
pon, to prevent its falling into the hands of the
enemy, and the same year are lost the galleon
"Nuestra Senora de Guia" in the river of Camboja
where it is being refitted, and the galleon "San
Antonio de Padua" in Mindoro with the reinforce-
ments which it is taking to Ternate; October 21,
1649, the flagship "Encarnacion" on the coast of
Bula, while returning from Nueva Espafia; in
1651, the ship "San Joseph" on the island of Luban,
while coming from Camboja, and the same year the
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 69
galleon "San Diego" puts back, after leaving for
Nueva Espana; in 1653, the galleon "San Diego"
in Limbones, while returning from Nueva Espana;
in 1655, the galleon "San Francisco Xavier," in the
bay of Boronga, while returning from Nueva Es-
pana, with the loss of many people, a new galleon
which has been built in Camboja at great expense,
with the loss of many people; and two merchant
ships with goods belonging to the citizens of Ma-
nila; in 1656, two ships after leaving for Nueva
Espana, put back; in 1669, two ships put back, but
leave in 1670, one of them being burned at Aca-
pulco; and in 1672, the ship "San Thelmo" puts
back. No reinforcements come from Nueva Es-
pana in the years 1647, 1652, 1662, and 1663. In
1662, the commerce of Macao is lost because of the
Portuguese revolt against Spain; and at that time
the Portuguese seize a ship with 30,000 pesos which
was intended for the purpose of war supplies for the
Spanish monarchy, and much property belonging
to the citizens of Manila. In 1647, a fleet of thirteen
Dutch ships enters the bay of Manila, where they
demolish some of the fortifications, although they
are finally driven off, retiring to the northward
where they inflict much damage. The embassy of
the Chinese pirate Cogsen under charge of Fray
Victorio Risio, O.P., throws the city into a flutter^
and new fortifications are pushed apace, a process
which however, exhausts the treasury and the citi-
zens. Sabiniano Manrrique de Lara writes to the
brotherhood, under date of December 14, 1662, ask-
ing them to attend the octave ordered to be held in
the cathedral after Christmas. The presidios of
Ternate and Zamboanga are abandoned in view of
7° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the approaching trouble with the Chinese pirate.
An earthquake that occurs August 20, 1658, proves
more disastrous than that of 1645. Insurrections in
several provinces in 1660 and 1661 are put down
only after great expense, as is that of the Chinese in
1672. The brotherhood gives alms of more than ten
thousand pesos in 1646 for the equipment of the fleet
that is to oppose the Dutch; in 1650, a second loan
of 13,740 pesos for the expenses of the treasury; an-
other loan of 7,601 pesos, 4 tomins in 1653, to aid the
expenses of the royal army; a fourth loan for the
equipment of fleets and presidios; a fifth of 61,526
pesos, 2 tomins: a total of 169,099 pesos, 2 tomins.
In addition to these loans, the brotherhood dis-
tributes alms to many sources, between the years
1651-1690, the total sum of 172,467 pesos, 7 tomins,
6 granos. May 31, 1656, the purveyor and deputies
grant a transfer of the hospital and all its properties,
etc., to the hospital Order of St. John of God, on the
condition that the purveyor and deputies as patrons,
may inspect the hospital once each year, and if they
note any defect or neglect report the same to the
prior in order that it may be remedied - a transfer
made because of hard times. The brotherhood con-
tinues to aid the hospital with many alms, notwith-
standing its own poverty.]
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the appreciation and esteem which the governors
and captains-general, and the archbishops and
bishops of this holy cathedral have had for the
house of Santa Misericordia; and other particu-
lars worthy of being read.
[Those governors, archbishops, and others who
have signally aided the brotherhood in alms and
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 7 1
other ways are the following: Luis Perez Das-
marinas, Francisco Tello, Archbishop Venavides,
Archbishop Diego Basquez de Mercado, Governor
Alonso Faxardo, Bishop Fray Pedro de Arce, Gov-
ernor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, Governor
Diego Faxardo, Governor Sabiniano Manrrique de
Lara. The latter writes a letter to the brotherhood
under date of March 17, 1660, excusing himself
from attending certain ceremonies because of stress
of work, and makes provision for the running of the
school of Santa Isabel. Governor Manuel de Leon
y Saravia founds a fund of 50,000 pesos for the
benefit of the entire community in 1677, an action
that is imitated by Francisco Coloma, who leaves a
principal of 4,000 pesos. Fray Felipe Pardo estab-
lishes another pious fund in 1689 of 13,000 pesos,
and in a letter of March 21 of that year, asks the
brotherhood to accept the same. Fray Andres Gon-
zales, bishop of Nueva Caceres, writes in an appre-
ciative vein to the brotherhood, and also founds a
pious fund. April 18, 1691, the dean of the cathe-
dral also writes appreciatively to the Misericordia.
The latter, on the occasion of the destructive earth-
quake of 1645, offers the use of its church to the
cabildo of the cathedral as that edifice has been
quite destroyed. November 26, 1652, the offer is
accepted and a commission appointed by the dean to
settle conditions with the brotherhood. These con-
ditions relate to church service and procedure, both
the cabildo and the Misericordia making certain
concessions. The religious orders of Manila have
at various times made mention of the Misericordia
and its good work to his Majesty, and the same thing
has been done by governors and archbishops. To
these good reports, which are sent to his Majesty in
72 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
1693, are due the royal decrees of 1699 and 1708 by
which the brotherhood is declared exempt from
visit by the ordinary, archbishop, provisors during
vacant see, or by any other ecclesiastical minister; as
well as the papal concessions that are made it. Our
author defends the exemption from visit against
those who oppose it. Many honors have been
heaped upon the brotherhood during royal religious
ceremonies. Lastly, Governor Marquis de Torre-
campo has shown honor and appreciation to the
association, on many occasions, even naming a new
ship which he had built "Santo Christo de la Mi-
sericordia," in honor of a crucifix owned by the
brotherhood.]
CHAPTER XIX
Satisfaction given by the Board of the Santa Miseri-
cordia to all this city, in answer to certain words
of the opposing manifesto, which charge it with
omission; proving that it could not, or ought not,
immediately upon the death of Captain Manuel
Lobo, fulfil the terms of his will, or distribute his
wealth in accordance with his last wishes, until
the time that it did do so by the direction of the
learned opinion of the professors of the royal uni-
versity of this city.
[The faithful administration of wills has ever
been one of the chief glories of the brotherhood.
The above-mentioned captain dies in the Marianas,
September 8, 1709, leaving the board as his executor,
and his mother as his heir. In this chapter the
words of the manifesto charging the brotherhood
with neglect in not settling up the will above men-
tioned in more than fifteen years, are cited ; and then
1 7 28-i 7 59] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 73
by means of arguments, letters, and the opinion of
the professors of the university, full answer is made
to the charge, and the action of the brotherhood
justified.]
CHAPTER XX
Of the present condition of the house of Santa
Misericordia, after so many and so repeated dis-
asters; beginning of its new increases in the
foundation of various funds at this time; the new
misfortunes which succeeded from the year JOO;
and alms which the house gave during this time.
[The years of bad luck experienced by the
brotherhood in the loss of money and the necessities
of the times, when its expenses are increased dispro-
portionally by the repair of its church, college,
office, hospital, distribution of alms for rebuilding
other edifices, and the remedy of other public neces-
sities, at last turn by the foundation of certain pious
funds. The first is founded by Manuel de Leon y
Saravia, in 1677, and is for 50,000 pesos. In imita-
tion of him ten more funds are established, which
produce alms amounting to 170,956 pesos, 4 tomins
up to the year 1700, which are distributed for the
spiritual and temporal needs of the poor, and for
other purposes.]
At this time the possessions of Pedro Quintero
Nunes and those of Licentiate Manuel Suares de
Olivera, as well as the stockfarm of the royal alferez
Joseph Correa, fell to the house of Santa Misericor-
dia. They have been and are of great profit to the
sick poor, and imprisoned, to some of the sacred
orders, for the blessed souls of purgatory, and other
pious purposes. It is a fact that up to the present
74 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
time, they have produced in benefit to all the above,
105,258 pesos, 4 tomins, almost half of which was
spent up to the year 700, which would be doubtless
of great consolation and relief to the poverty and
necessities of this community in times when even the
citizens, ill-satisfied by the blows of the past disas-
ters, were experiencing new outbreaks and losses in
their wealth, by those which happened frequently to
the galleons of this line, from their having to put
back to port, and the embargo of the goods, which
were embarked therein. For from the year 673
until that of 700, trade received signal injuries in
the port of Acapulco, the merchandise of the trade
being embargoed during the years 676 and 677, in
revenge for having detained in this city at the advice
of royal officials 330,000 pesos, which came in the
year 675 from the citizens of Mexico in violation of
royal decrees. In another decree of 678, obtained
by the said citizens [of Mexico] by dint of very
inaccurate reports, it was ordered that those of this
city return said sum, increased by interest at the rate
of twenty-five per cent. That shaving \escalfe\ was
made from the embargoed goods. From so noto-
rious setbacks, other losses of greater consideration
followed; and from the increase of excessive taxes
which were imposed on those interested who took
the galleon "San Antonio de Padua" to the port of
Acapulco in the year 79, the citizens suffered very
great setbacks. In the year 682 the ship "Santa
Rosa" put back, and in 86, while attending to the
preparation of the ship "Santo Nino" for Acapulco,
news came that there was a squadron of eleven hos-
tile ships among the islands. On that account the
voyage was suspended and the ships were prepared
to go out to oppose the said squadron and guard the
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 75
galleon which was expected with the succor from
Nueva Espana.
[Calamities are still in store for the Philippines.
The " Santo Nino" leaves Cavite in 1687, but is
forced to put back in order to winter at Bagatao,
and returns to Cavite with its cargo half rotten.
Reinforcements providentially come from Nueva
Espana in 1688. In 1690, the almiranta while re-
turning from Nueva Espana is lost in the Marianas,
and although the people are saved, the cargo is
partly lost. The galleon "Santo Christo de Burgos"
is compelled to put back to Camarines to winter in
1692. Sailing once more in 1693, it is never again
heard of. The "San Joseph" is lost three days out
from port in the island of Luban, and many people
are drowned. In 1696, as there is no galleon to send
to Nueva Espana, a patache is bought for the trade,
but the 74,000 pesos that it is compelled to pay in
Acapulco for duties, is so great a tax on the citizens
of Manila that but little is left for them. However,
amid all these disasters, there is one bright ray,
namely in the pious funds that are established in the
brotherhood. From 1673- 1700, these funds realized
227,724 pesos, 3 tomins, which are distributed among
the poor and used for other purposes. Between the
years 1 690-1 701, the sum of 44,425 pesos, 3 tomins
is realized from investments and applied to pious
ends.]
CHAPTER XXI
Of the alms which the house of Santa Misericordia
has distributed from the year J '01 to that of J 28 ;
losses suffered by the funds in their charge during
that time, and an account of other things.
[The brotherhood expends great sums between
7° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the years 1701-1728, for the sick, prisoners, beggars,
souls in purgatory, support of orphan girls, and poor
widows. The interest on annuities for that period
amounts to 78,115 pesos, 6 tomins; returns from
commerce, to 417,202 pesos, 5 tomins, 6 granos;
while for the college is spent the sum of 86,136 pesos,
and for divine worship, besides the masses said and
some other things, 37,345 pesos, 4 tomins, 6 granos:
a sum total of 618,799 pesos, 7 tomins. During this
period occurs the loss of the ships "San Francisco
Xavier" and "Santo Christo de Burgos," in which
the brotherhood was a heavy loser.]
CHAPTER XXII
In which are contained the indulgences and favors
conceded by the supreme pontiffs to the brothers
and sisters of Santa Misericordia of the city of
Manila, which are copied from the original
briefs, relics, with which it is enriched; with its
authentic royal decree which exempts and pre-
serves it from visits by the ecclesiastical ordinaries,
in imitation of the royal house of Lizboa; thd
chaplaincies and becas of which it is patron, the
number of brothers of which this venerable
brotherhood is composed and those who serve this
present year in the Board of Santa Misericordia;
and the report of the alms which are given annu-
ally.
The purveyor and deputies who compose the
illustrious Board of Santa Misericordia at present
are as follows: General Don Benito Carrasco y
Paniagua, purveyor (an office he has held three
times previously) ; secretary-in-chief for the king
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 77
our sovereign of this noble city and its deputation,
with active voice and vote by privilege in its most
noble ayuntamiento ; secretary of the board, Captain
Don Juan Baptista de Uriarte (author of this small
work) , regularly-appointed regidor for his Majesty
of said noble ayuntamiento, who as ex-treasurer took
charge of the office of secretary, in accordance with
the rules, in the absence of Sargento-mayor Don Jo-
seph Antonio Nufio de Villavicencio, general treas-
urer of the bulls of the Holy Crusade, accountant
regulator, regularly-appointed regidor of this noble
city and special notary of the Holy Office, as he has
been promoted to the post of accountant, a royal
official of the royal treasury; treasurer, General Don
Miguel de Allanegui, accountant of accounts and
results of the royal treasury of these islands, and
familiar of the Holy Office; chapel-steward, Gen-
eral Don Joseph Verelo de Urbina; purse-steward
and attorney-general, Captain Don Antonio de
Olivarria; prison-steward, Sargento-mayor Don
Joseph de Vega y Vic; steward of the plate, who
looks after the gathering of alms, Captain Don
Simon de Amechezurra; and deputies of the board,
General Don Antonio Sanchez Zerdan, and the
sargentos-mayor, Don Joseph Beltran de Salazar,
regularly-appointed regidor for his Majesty of this
noble city, Don Frutos Delgado, Don Antonio
Lopez Perea, also senior regidor of the city, and
Captains Don Domingo Allende and Don Sebastian
de Arramburu.
[An act of May 22, 1728, orders a compilation to
be made of the indulgences and other things, in
order that the high estimation of the popes and
sovereigns for the brotherhood may be apparent.
7% THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Indulgences have been granted by Urban VIII,
Clement XI (September 20, 1717), and Innocent
XIII; and the latter has also approved the Institute
of the brotherhood. The latter own various relics.
One reliquary, bearing the papal arms, and con-
served in an elaborate golden pyx which is deposited
in a tabernacle on the altar of the assembly room of
the brotherhood, contains a bit of the wood of the
holy cross, a bit of the swaddling clothes in which
the child Jesus was wrapped, a bit of a bone of St.
Isabel the mother of John the Baptist, a bit of a bone
of St. Ignatius Loyola, and a bit of a bone of St.
Pasqual Baylon. Other relics are another bit of the
wood of the cross, a bone of St. Felix, pope and
martyr, a letter of St. Pedro Baptista, O.S.F., who
was martyred in Japan, and a shinbone of St. Chris-
tina, virgin and martyr. In addition, the brother-
hood bears the title of Apostolic syndic of the
seraphic Order of St. Francis, and as such its
brothers enjoy all the privileges and exemptions
conceded to that order by apostolic bulls, and all of
the indulgences, privileges, etc., for all the provinces
of Nueva Espafia subject to the obedience of the
father commissary-general of the order. The royal
decree of June 20, 1623, confirms the rules and regu-
lations of the brotherhood. In consequence of this
decree, the brotherhood presents a petition to the
governor asking him as royal vice-patron to confirm
the rules and regulations. This is done by special
act on September 4, 1625 DY Fernando de Silva.
They have already been approved by Francisco
Tello, and Gabriel de la Cruz, schoolmaster of the
cathedral, January 24, 1597. The royal decree of
September 7, 1699, inserted in the decree of June
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 79
ii, 1708, grants exemption from government or
religious visit. Notwithstanding this decree, the
effort has been made without success to subject the
brotherhood to visit. The closest of supervision has
been exercised by the brothers themselves. All the
documents mentioned above are given by our
author.]
Chaplaincies with collation
There are twenty-nine chaplaincies with collation,
of which the Board of Santa Misericordia is
patron. They were founded by different benefac-
tors, so that in accordance with the conditions and
clauses which were provided in their foundations,
the board appoints the chaplains who are to serve
them. Such appointees taking the appointments
which it sends to them (in which the obligation
which falls to each one is made known to them)
present themselves before the proper persons within
the term which the holy Council of Trent prescribes,
for the approval and collation of those chaplaincies.
It is intimated to them at this time that they must
inform the board promptly that they have fulfilled
their so necessary obligation for the good govern-
ment which is demanded in this. An account must
be kept in a separate book of chaplaincies, in the
form which is always usual.
Lay chaplaincies
The lay chaplaincies, of which the board is also
patron, number ten. They are filled in accordance
with the clauses of their foundation by the chaplains
whom the board appoints to serve them; in whose
despatch a different style is followed since they are
lay.
80 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Becas of collegiates
In the royal college of San Joseph of this city,
Captain Diego Gonzalez de Arcos founded two
becas with a capital of 4,000 pesos, making the Board
of Santa Misericordia patron of them, with the con-
dition that the sons of [men from] Estremadura, and
especially those of Villa de Don Benito be preferred.
Their vacancies are reported by the reverend father
rector of the said college.
Number of brothers in this venerable brotherhood
and other circumstances
The founders and brothers of this brotherhood,
considering the work and business in which they had
to employ themselves continually in fulfilment of
the works of charity, prudently decided and decreed
by a chapter of the ordinances that there should be
250 brothers for the due fulfilment of all the ordi-
nances, in whom good report, sane conscience, honest
life, fear of God, observance of His commandments,
and prompt obedience to all that should be of serv-
ice to God and to the brotherhood, and the relief of
one's neighbor had to be included. They declared
that they should not be single, unless they had
reached the age of thirty, but that being virtuous
persons and of the said qualities, they might receive
dispensation and be received as brothers if they were
twenty-five years old or upward. But no one who
was not an oldtime Christian, and no one who had
any obligatory duties that could prevent him from
serving in the brotherhood [could be a member] ;
neither could those who did not know how to read
or to write. Among said 250 brothers would be
always the management and government of the
house, and the election of the officers, with obliga-
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 8 1
tion to serve God by those who should be elected
and appointed by the purveyor and brothers of the
board if there were no legitimate obstacle to prevent
that. Before they should be admitted as brothers,
the secretary of the house was to enter in the book
of the brotherhood that its ordinances should be
submitted to them, so that having seen and read
them, they might determine whether they could
fulfil them. And if they were questioned by the
board in regard to them, and were found with a
mind resolved to observe them and to serve accord-
ing to the rules in the brotherhood, an oath was to
be taken from them on the holy gospels in a missal
before the purveyor and brothers of the board, to
the effect that when they should hear the signal of
the house, or the bells, with the sign that had been
arranged for the summoning of the brothers, they
should come to the house to perform the works of
charity in accordance with the orders that they
should receive from the purveyor and brothers of
the board; and also if they were summoned in the
name of the aforesaid and there was no legitimate
obstacle. The above was to be a matter of con-
science. They were also to swear to keep the secrets
of the board and the rules, when they should be sum-
moned by the board, and were obliged, notwith-
standing their oath, to recite fourteen Pater Nosters
and fourteen Ave Marias for the deceased brothers,
and, having done that, they were to be received as
brothers, and their names to be inscribed in the book
of the brotherhood.
Annual alms given by the house of the Santa Miseri-
cordia of the city of Manila
Since we have to furl the sails to this discourse,
82 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
because of the limits of time, and make an end to
this small work in these last chapters, I thought it
important to first make an extract (although with
much labor) of all the alms and sums of pesos, pro-
duced by the funds which are administered by the
house of Santa Misericordia, during the years when
- all being complete, and no disaster of earthquakes
coming upon them, or shipwrecks or other accidents,
which depend on time - it distributes to the benefit of
all this community. I was also moved to this inter-
esting task by making charts of all the funds and
their pious purposes, by having met in the first part
of the life of the venerable and most reverend father
master, Fray Simon de Roxas, a great servant of
God and a member of the Order of the Santissima
Trinidad de Redemptores [i.e., the Most Holy
Trinity of Redeemers],3 written during the year 670
3 The Order of the Holy Trinity was founded primarily by
St. John of Matha, a native of Provence, who was ordained to the
priesthood. On the occasion of his first mass, he determined to
devote himself to the redemption of Christian captives from the
Mahometans. Retiring for a season of prayer to the cell of the
aged French hermit, St. Felix of Valois, the latter approved the
plan, and in 1197, they both went to Rome where they obtained
the approbation of Pope Innocent III for the erection of a new
order. The pope ordered the bishop of Paris and the abbot of
St. Victor to draw up the rules for the order, which received
papal sanction in 1198. A white habit with a red and blue cross
on the breast was assigned as a distinctive dress. It received a
new confirmation and additional privileges by a papal bull of
1209. The French monarch Philippe Auguste authorized the
existence of the order in his kingdoms, and Gauthier III, lord of
Chatillon, granted them land for a convent. Later as the order
increased, the latter, seconded by the king, granted them Cerfroid,
near Grandlieu, on the borders of Valois, which became the chief
house of the order. The two saints founded many houses in
France. Many Christian slaves were ransomed in Morocco and
Spain. It was a fundamental rule of the order that at least one-
third of its revenues should be set aside for the redemption of
captives. It was estimated in the seventeenth century that since
1728-1759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 83
by the very reverend father master, Fray Francisco
de Arcos, preacher and theologue of his Majesty,
and of the tribunals of his royal conscience, etc., in
which he refers to a paragraph of a letter which
Juan Baptista Labana wrote during the voyage from
Portugal of Don Phelipe III (of happy memory),
in which he cited folio 16; and in the life of the
said venerable father, a description of the alms
which the royal house of Santa Misericordia of the
court of Lisboa distributed in the year 619, and of
those which regularly and annually it distributes
in the pious ends which are contained in the said
chapter, is found in book 8, chapter x, pp. 418-420.
It states that those alms are about 30,000 ducados
annually. Inasmuch as chapter xi of this work
states that the alms distributed by this house of Santa
Misericordia of the city of Manila amounted to
about 70,000 pesos, I have determined to prove the
said proposition part by part, passing over the cir-
cumstances which are found in the said chapter, and
making a clear demonstration of their reality, with-
out failing one jot in the truth, which is required in
a matter of so great importance, and which has to
yield in so great glory to the Spanish monarchy. It
is a pity that in the circumstances of the present
case, there should be many who opposed the truth
as it did not issue so clear and apparent in all the
books of the house which treat of this matter; and
necessarily I am obliged to give it by imagining
charts which are fitting and do not leave the least
reason for doubt.
its foundation the order had ransomed 30,720 Christian captives.
At one time there were as many as two hundred and fifty houses.
See Baring Gould's Lives of the Saints, ii, pp. 226-230; and Addis
and Arnold's Catholic Dictionary, p. 810.
84 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
This having been granted, therefore, I assert that
the alms and sums of pesos received by the holy
cathedral church and the sacred orders of this city,
the beaterios, confraternities, the venerable tertiary
order, the house for sheltered women, the hospice
of San Jacinto, the colleges (without including that
of Santa Misericordia, St. John of God and its
infirmary), the province of Camarines, and the In-
dians of Marinas Islands, amount to 25,520 pesos.
In the alms given for masses, $y7J7 pesos are also
distributed as a suffrage for the blessed souls of
purgatory; among the poor prisoners of this city,
2,691 pesos ; as a benefit to the school of Santa Isabel,
which belongs to the brotherhood, in the divine wor-
ship of its church, the salary of its chaplains, serv-
ants of the house, support, clothing and other things
which are spent for the girl collegiates (the number
of those at present are 58 inmates, rectress, and
portress, 9 wards, and 6 slave women, who serve in
it), and repairs of said school (in which alone this
present year about 6,000 pesos have been spent) , they
give and apply 10,700 pesos; as dowries for the said
girl collegiates and other orphan daughters of noble
parents of this city, 16,000 pesos; for the relief of
the necessities of poor Spaniards, widows, self-
respecting poor, 6,936 pesos. Besides these sums
3,000 pesos are set aside for the benefit of the above-
mentioned purposes which, with somewhat more,
are produced by the sums at interest, and also 1,200
pesos which are yielded by the encomienda which
his Majesty applied to the Board of Santa Miseri-
cordia in the provinces of the Ylocos and Leite.
Therefore totaling up the eight items of pesos above
applied, the amount is 71,824 pesos produced by the
1 728-1 759] SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA 85
funds administered by this house, as is adjusted with
the greatest exactness. One may see by the sums that
result to the benefit of so many pious ends, the reality
and truth of the said proposition, and consequently,
the great succor of silver for the relief of the needs
of its neighbor. Surely I believe that in this small
work of rich treasures, an extraordinary splendor
for the house must shine forth (with the new dis-
covery of so abundant a mine, which has been buried
in silence in the extensive field and space of 134
years) ; a prodigy which looks to Spain for the non-
moderation of this great house of Misericordia in
the most remote parts of the world. I believe that
without injury to the greater (if it can be that there
is another which exceeds it) , it merited as panegyrist
of its glories (although with more time) a nature
suitable to its worth and greatness. Lastly placed
in the royal crown of Espaiia, it will be one of the
most precious stones which beautify that crown with
its rich splendor, for the greater honor and glory of
God our Lord.
SURVEY OF THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS
[Part I]
[Title-page :~\ Relation in which, by order of
his Catholic Majesty (may God keep him) are set
forth the towns, castles, forts, and military posts of
the provinces subject to his royal dominion in the
Philipinas islands. With sketches of their plans and
detailed accounts of the supplies, soldiers, wages,
rations, and ammunition, required to maintain them;
the annual amount of these, and the product of the
incomes and amounts set aside for them from which
they are obtained. All these provinces are described,
with information not only of essential but of curious
matters, with a summary of what they yield for the
royal treasury; an account of it is given, with a
general resume of the fixed income and charges of
the treasury, drawn up by the field marshal, Don
Fernando Valdes Tamon, in whose charge is the
government of these islands. In the year 1739.4
4 The limits of our space prevent us from presenting part i of
this interesting document in full; but such matter is selected as
relates to Manila, Cavite, Cebu, and Zamboanga, as being the most
important Spanish settlements in the islands. The list at the
end shows the contents of Valdes Tamon's report in full, and
presents an enumeration of all the military posts, with the names
bestowed on the forts therein. Part ii, on the ecclesiastical estate,
is translated in full (save for preliminary and final remarks, and
two letters of minor interest).
1 7 28-1 7 59] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 87
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY OF MANILA
The island of Luzon (it is also called Nueva Cas-
tilla) is the largest of all those which submit to the
Catholic crown in this Philippine archipelago. Its
figure is that of an arm somewhat doubled, and the
latest observations give it three hundred and fifty
leguas of circumference, and two hundred leguas of
length. Its width cannot be accurately stated, because
the land is in some places broad and in others narrow,
although it is known that it is longer from the elbow
to the shoulder, and in that distance it is noticed
that the greatest width is forty-three leguas ; and it
is about twenty-two leguas from the elbow to the
hand of this imaginary arm. In this remotest part,
then, of the Spanish domain, in 140 48' of northern
latitude and 1580 38' of eastern longitude, is situated
Manila,5 nearly in the middle of its mainland, in the
region of the elbow of its [imaginary] figure; and
there, as being the capital of all the Spanish posses-
sions in the Philipinas Islands, resides permanently
the royal Audiencia with its president the captain-
general, the archiepiscopal see, and other tribunals.
The number of citizens who distinguish the city is
astonishingly small; these are the Spaniards who
live within the walls, and in the wards of Binondoc
5 The city of Manila is located in 140 35' 31" N. latitude,
and 120 ° 58' 08" E. longitude (from Greenwich). The fol-
lowing longitudes (reckoned from Greenwich) will enable the
reader to compute the differences in maps on which longitude is
reckoned from other meridians:
Madrid (Observatory), Spain, 30 41' 21" W. ; San Fernando
(Observatory), Spain, 6° 12' 24" W. ; Paris (Observatory),
France, 2° 20' 14" E. ; Ferro, the extreme southwest of the
Canary Islands (the assumed dividing line between the east and
west hemispheres), 170 20' W. ; Washington, D. C. (Obser-
vatory), 770 2' 48" W. (U. S. Philippine Gazetteer, p. 183.)
88 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
and Santa Cruz, which adjoin it; and although in
these places there is an astonishing number of people,
I have the idea that they are a contemptible rabble,
excepting the small number of the Spaniards. It
was June 24, 1571, when Manila was founded, and
it recognizes as its founder the adelantado Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi - a hero in truth, worthy of the
greatest praises for the bravery, judgment, and good
fortune by which he was distinguished in these con-
quests.
The site which this town occupies6 is a point of
land on the shores of the sea, in a bay thirty leguas
in circumference ; into this falls a river of consider-
able size, which comes down from a lake distant
five leguas from the city on the eastern side -by
which it flows, surrounding the city, and in its prog-
ress washes its walls, until it pours its waters through
the bar.
Up to this time the secular government has been
in charge of forty governors, twenty-three of them
proprietary, and seventeen ad interim. The eccle-
siastical government likewise has had one bishop
and thirteen archbishops. Both these numbers are
carefully estimated from the list of [those who have
held] both dignities.
6 See accompanying plan of Manila, obtained from the Valdes
Tamon MS. in Madrid. An interesting "historical sketch of
the walls of Manila" is found in the Annual Report of the U. S.
War Department, 1903, iii, pp. 434-446, which contains numer-
ous illustrations of the walls and gates, some of which show-
defenses which have since been demolished. A note (by Capt.
A. C. Macomb) states that the map of Manila referred to in
Valdes Tamon's report is supposed to be identical with that car-
ried to England by General Draper after the capture of Manila
in 1762, which is now in the British Museum in London. Con-
cerning the plates of the map taken to England by Draper (the
famous Murillo Velarde map, engraved in 1734), see our VOL.
xlix, note 25.
-a
o
%,
1 7 28-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 9 1
The fortifications with which this town is girt
about are everywhere of irregular shape, in accord-
ance with the surface of the ground. Its walls,
although of masonry, are not regarded as inferior -
if one considers the good quality of the stone, which
is easy to work on account of being soft -to those
of mud or brick. On the other hand, I am per-
suaded that an injustice would be done to our walls
if one should deny them the advantage of the former
kind and the solidity of the latter, in view of their
great resistance; for in the course of more than a
century since their construction, some slight decay
has been noticed only occasionally, and in places
here and there little sheltered from the salt winds;
and this is remedied, or the wall is preserved, by
applying a thin coat of lime, an idea which has come
as the result of experience. Its circuit appears to
be 12,498 Castilian feet, both its extremities closing
in with the castle of Santiago, which, on account of
its position, occupies in Manila the place of the
citadel.
The bastions in its circuit are twelve, all furnished
with terreplein ; nine are small, and the others large,
of the regular size. In one of these last, named " San
Andres," there is a powder-magazine, bomb-proof,
which the present governor caused to be constructed;
an incentive to building this was the little shelter
afforded by a mere shed in former times, and the
exposed condition of its contents to the shots of a
besieger; these risks that were feared have ceased
at sight of the present fortification. There are two
sentry-towers incorporated with the said wall, and
besides this there are a ravelin and a crown-work.
All this is a very respectable aggregate, as contrib-
92 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
uting to the greatest defense of the city ; the situation
of each of these defenses will be described in the
proper place.
The gates of this city are six, two main entrances
and four posterns. Of these Santa Lucia and Pala-
cio, which look toward the west, allow passage to
the shore - as also on the north side Santo Domingo
and Almacenes give passage to the river. The main
gates are distinguished by the names Real and
Parian. The latter is situated in the middle of the
curtain which faces the northeast between the San
Lorenzo and San Gabriel bastions; and inside of it
is its guard-station, capacious enough to lodge a
company of men. Corresponding to the empty space
below, in the upper part it has a spacious sentry-
tower, furnished with some cannons, which, by favor
of its sides defends the collateral bulwarks - a fortifi-
cation which, it may be supposed, was placed here
in order to make up for the defect of the extraordin-
ary length of this curtain.
The outer works of this are thus composed: a
crown-work, which masks the gate; a fausse-braye
\jalsabraga~\, which extends from the flank of the
bastion San Gabriel, until it almost reaches the said
gate, there leaving room for a little bridge for com-
munication with the crown-work already men-
tioned; a ditch, of which we shall treat further on;
its covered way, parapet, and palisade, with its es-
planade, the whole regularly surrounded, so far as
the narrowness of the place permits; and at its foot
a quagmire, which serves as an outer ditch. At the
end of this, and along its outer margin, extending
toward the south, there is a grand highway, which
at its beginning is joined with another but small
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 93
road, which lies between the outer ditch and the
river; and both of these connect with a little bridge,
next to a small fort which was erected for the guards
stationed at the large bridge which, close by, crosses
the river.
The ditch of the half -curtain (of which mention
was reserved for this place, in order to avoid con-
fusion) is formed by the waters which overflow
from the river at the rise of the tides. It starts from
the angle defended by the bastion San Gabriel, and
extends until it is very near the Parian gate, with a
counterscarp - which there leaves it, bending toward
the crown-work, and thus is left almost isolated, with
a small arm. This, a little farther, adds all its
waters, as if on deposit, to the outer ditch already
mentioned. Not thus the main ditch ; for this, over-
flowing the right side according to the amount of
water which it receives [from the river], continues
its course along the margin of the grand highway,
more or less closely according to its curves, until,
coming close to the walls, it ends its course round
about them, close to the bastion San Diego. At this
place art has imposed restraints on it, having in
mind, no doubt, the frequent inundations to which
that vicinity would be exposed if (as was easy for
it) this ditch should come to unite its waters with
the sea. From this measure of prudence resulted
two benefits of special importance, in which both
the fortified post and the public are directly inter-
ested - the former, on account of the advantage
which it enjoys (as may be seen in the plan) in the
fact that the ditch serves it as a moat on the eastern
and southern sides ; and the latter, because it is util-
ized for the great number of vessels which, aided
94 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
by the rising tide, come up to the Puerta Real to
discharge their lading.
This is one of the two principal gates already
mentioned. It is located on the southern side of this
town, in the curtain which defends the bastions San
Diego and San Andres, although nearer to the lat-
ter; and it much resembles the gate of the Parian
(although built in different style) in its convenience
and its fortifications - for it has, like the former, a
guard-station and watchtower, similarly arranged
and equipped. It is only noted that this curtain,
peculiar among all, is the only one which is fur-
nished with terreplein ; for this reason some cannons
(which defense the others lack) have been placed
in it.
Its other exterior works, arranged according to
their order, are reduced to a bridge that can be
raised, a moat with its counterscarp faced with
stone [revestido], and at a little distance a ravelin
in condition for defense - notwithstanding which, on
account of masking the gate it is not found in front
of the half of the curtain which was its proper place.
Although this gate had the remaining features of
covered way, parapet, palisade, and esplanade, they
were entirely in ruins at the time when this govern-
ment began - which induced us to plan them anew,
in modern style, and of much better quality than
were the old ones.
All the curtains which face the western and north-
ern part of this fortress are, without question, the
weakest part of its defenses; but on the supposition
(which is believed to be a remote contingency) that
European armies may move to attack it in earnest -
and it may be regarded as an enormous undertaking
by our enemies here, who are most laughable on
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 95
account of their lack of discipline and of forts - the
natural defenses are apparently even more than
sufficient. For it has on the west the waters of the
bay for a moat, and on the north a river that is broad
and deep ; and with this all fears may be laid aside.
There is also maintained in this city, at the expense
of the royal treasury (as being a necessity), a foun-
dry for artillery, grenades, and cannon balls of all
calibers; and an iron-furnace, where men are con-
tinually forging, according to the occasion, many
hand-weapons and some firearms. The metals for
these are transported from countries beyond the sea.
Besides these, a scant half-legua to the south, is the
powder- factory, which is enclosed by a triangular
redoubt of stone and mortar, with seven mounted
iron cannons, and fortified by three demi-bastions.
This factory supplies gunpowder to Manila and the
forts dependent on it; to the ships of his Majesty
which sail annually to the port of Acapulco and the
Marianas Islands; to the armadas which, when any
danger from enemies arises, are made ready on the
opposite shore; and to the public festivals. More
than enough to cover the expense is received from
those who wish to buy it, to whom it is furnished for
their money. The ingredients of its composition are
produced in the country, except the saltpetre, which
is brought from foreign countries.
Artillery, mounted and dismounted, of this fort,
with whatever is necessary for handling it
Bronze cannons
Caliber
Iron cannons
Caliber
1
3
2
2
1
1
2
4
8
13
6
10
4
6
96 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Bronze cannons Caliber Iron cannons Caliber
1 9 11 8
1 14 4 10
1 16 4 12
15 84 14
7 20 5 18
3 22 4 20
2 24 2 30
6 25
stone-mortars,
for moat-guards "
43 bronze cannons 65 iron cannons
Military supplies kept in reserve, independent of
those used in actual service
20,370 iron cannon-balls, as reserve for the said
artillery.
18 bronze stone-mortars, with their chambers.
5 iron esmerils.
4 iron pinzotes.
458 match-lock arquebuses.
409 flint-lock guns and [hand-] cannons, with
bayonets.
34 pairs of pistols.
20 blunderbusses, bronze and iron.
2,267 short swords, cutlasses, and broadswords.
1,097 iron grenades.
50,342 lead bullets, of suitable size.
800 arrobas of gunpowder, kept in reserve.
The fighting men who serve in the said royal
camp of Manila comprise nine companies of Span-
ish infantry. The first is under command of the
captain-general; the second, of the master-of-camp ;
the third, of the sargento-mayor; and the rest, under
six captains who are appointed by this government.
Each company has its alferez, its sergeant, and also
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 97
its minor posts of page, standard-bearer, fifer and
drummer; and, in all, there are six hundred and
seventy-five soldiers. There are also a captain and
thirteen halberdiers, the personal guard of the
governor and captain-general; two paid adjutants,
and seven supernumeraries; one deputy-commander
of artillery, with his head gunner, and thirty-six
artillerists. There is a military engineer, and an
overseer of the royal works; and there are masters
and a suitable number of workmen for casting ar-
tillery, operating forges, and making gunpowder.
There are also, to serve as workmen in the said shops,
a company of Pampango infantry, with their captain,
alferez, sergeant, standard-bearer, and two hundred
and forty-three regular soldiers - more or less, ac-
cording to circumstances.
The wages and rations of the said soldiers are
paid monthly, excepting the captain-general, who
receives his pay every four months and at the rate
of 8,000 pesos (each of 450 maravedis of silver) a
year. The amount each one receives is stated thus:
Officers: The master-of-camp, 137 pesos, 6 tomins;
the sargento-mayor, 30 p.; the six captains, each
15 p.; the captain of the guard, 24 p.; the deputy
commander of artillery, 25 p.; the military en-
gineer, 25 p.; the overseer of works, 20 p.; two
paid adjutants, each 8 p.; the seven supernumera-
ries, each 6 p. ; the alferezes, each 4 p. ; the sergeants,
each 3 p. ; the head gunner of the artillery, 8 p. ;
the Pampango captain, 4 p., 4 t. ; his alferez, and his
sergeant, each 2 p., 4 t.
Soldiers'. The Spanish soldiers, each 2 pesos;
the halberdiers, each 3 p.; the artillerists, each 2 p.;
the drum-major, 3 p.; the pages, standard-bearers,
one fifer, and the other drummer, each 2 p.; the
9 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Pampango soldiers, each 1 p., 2 t, and some of them
have extra pay; one Pampango standard-bearer,
with \blanfc\ p., 6 tomins.
To all the above are furnished respectively a
ration of rice, excepting the captain of the guard,
the engineer, and the overseer of works - for which
purpose are used 7,454^ f anegas of rice a year - and
the wages amount annually to 34,139 pesos, 3 tomins;
the latter are paid from the royal treasury of Manila,
which, as it has to meet the other charges which are
imposed on the amount of the royal revenues, has
not, it is acknowledged, funds adequate for this
purpose, as will be made manifest in the proper
place.
THE CASTLE OF SANTIAGO
It has a circuit of 2,030 feet; its shape is almost
triangular. Its fortifications on the southern side,
which faces the city, include a curtain with terre-
plein, flanked by two demi-bastions ; it has a f ausse-
braye, and a ditch which communicates with the
river. On the northern side, toward the entrance of
the ditch, in place of a bastion is raised a cavalier
with three faces or batteries; one of these fronts
the sea (the anchorage included), another the said
entrance, and the third the river itself. This last
side of the cavalier joins a large tower of the same
height as the walls ; and through the tower there is
a descent to a semi-circular platform or battery, at
the level of the water, with which the aforesaid
triangular figure of this castle is completed.
Through these sides the fort has the necessary com-
munication: with the city, through its principal
gate, which faces that way; with the river, and with
the shore or beach of the sea, by a postern gate
1 728-1 759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 99
which furnishes passage to it. All the above will
be better understood by referring to the proper plan,
folio [blank in MS.~\y where also will be found,
placed in their order, the guard-stations, the bar-
racks of the troops who garrison it, and the quarters
of the warden and his subalterns. The reduced size
of the plan has not allowed room for showing other
buildings distinctly, such as the chapel, various
storehouses (among these the powder-magazine,
which is bomb-proof), the dungeons, the reservoirs
of water, etc.
Artillery mounted and dismounted, with the
necessary articles for its handling
Bronze cannons Caliber Iron cannons Caliber
4 213
2 414
1 615
3 816
1 10 2 16
3 16 2 25
8 18 4 32
3 20
4 25
29 bronze cannons 12 iron cannons
Reserve supplies
1,534 iron cannon-balls, kept in reserve for the
said artillery.
1 bronze mortar, carrying a 300-libra ball.
95 muskets.
85 match-lock arquebuses.
3,414 balls for these guns.
161 grenades.
80 bar-shots.
I OO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
80 lanterns (a contrivance for [using] fire and
stone).
148 Turkish swords, pikes, broad daggers, hand-
spikes, lances, and gun-forks.
200 arrobas of gunpowder, kept in reserve.
The troops in the regular garrison of the said castle
are composed of one company of Spanish infantry,
commanded by the warden (who is appointed by his
Majesty), with a lieutenant-commander, an orderly
aide-de-camp, an alferez, a sergeant, and five minor
posts - those of page, standard-bearer, fifer, and two
drummers. It has sixty regular soldiers, one head
gunner, and twelve artillerymen. The fort has also,
as workmen in the shops, Pampango soldiers in a
company of infantry, with their captain, alferez,
sergeant, the three minor posts of standard-bearer,
fifer, and drummer, and ninety regular soldiers,
three of them receiving extra pay.
The wages and rations of the said troops are paid
monthly, in the form which is shown in the follow-
ing schedule:
Officers: The warden, 66 pesos, 5 tomins; his
lieutenant, 15 p.; the aide-de-camp, 5 p., 6 t. ; the
alferez, 4 p.; the sergeant, 3 p.; the head gunner,
4 p. ; the Pampango captain, 6 p. ; the alferez and the
sergeant, each 2 p., 4 t.
Soldiers: The sixty Spanish soldiers, each 2
pesos; the twelve artillerymen, each 2 p.; the page,
the standard-bearer, the fifer, and the drummers,
each 2 p.; the Pampango soldiers, and the men in
the minor posts, each 1 p., 2 t.
These wages amount in the year to 4,595 pesos in
cash ; and the rice, of which rations are issued to all,
to 1,219^ fanegas. All this expense is met from the
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS IOI
royal treasury and storehouses of Manila; the exact
statement regarding it will be found at the end.
DESCRIPTION OF CAVITE
In sight of Manila, and south-southeast of it, at
a distance of three leguas by way of the waters of
the bay, and six short leguas by land -in 140 31' of
north latitude, and 1580 38' of east longitude -is
the port of Cavite, which is formed by a tongue of
land, curved from east to west; it is 5,100 feet long,
and 1,200 feet broad. It is the ordinary anchorage
for the ships of his Majesty and of private persons,
as well as for the pataches belonging to the com-
merce of the various Oriental peoples, who come
here to carry it on every year, at regular times.
Its population is composed of the soldiers who
garrison its castle, and those of other posts ; the sea-
faring men who serve in the vessels of the [Aca-
pulco] trade-route, and in various other vessels, in
the royal service; and the men who compose the
force of the navy-yard, for the repair and the build-
ing of ships. Among so many, the citizens of most
prominence are the pilots, boatswains, and other
officers of the ships and the Ribera. The entire gov-
ernment-political, military, and social -is in the
hands of a warden and chief magistrate, who is not
responsible to any one except the captain-general.
Its principal fortification consists of the fort San
Phelipe, the shape of which is an irregular quadri-
lateral; it is situated toward the point of the
Ribera, at a distance from it of about 1,100 feet. It
has four bastions with orillons, in old style; its
western curtain, in which is its gate, has a fausse-
braye; and its southern curtain, on the shore of the
102 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Ribera, has a barbette battery of twenty mounted
cannons. A similar account of the two remaining
curtains is omitted, because in them there is nothing
new for notice. The circuit of the fort is 1,410 feet;
and within it are located, in due order, lodgings
sufficient for the soldiers in its garrison, an armory,
a powder-magazine, a water reservoir, and other
offices necessary to the service.
On the western side, which is contiguous with the
village of San Roque, this fort is also fortified by a
curtain 540 feet long, which, with the two large
towers which flank it, occupies the entire width of
the tongue of land, and, with a revetted moat, leaves
Cavite almost isolated ; it would be feasible to make
it entirely so by the union of the two bodies of sea-
water - with experience of fatal results, if the double
defense of a counterscarp were not interposed. This
curtain has, as a mask to its gate, a half-star work
with its own gate, which is the one that people call
Puerta Vaga; and these two entrances furnish, for
the said town and Manila, the only passage by land
that is found in this port.
To this fortification is added another, and of no
less importance, the necessity of which was made
evident by warnings; and the plan of its structure
was thought out by experience. For, having noted
in less than fifty years the repeated ravages caused
in this port, on the north side, by the violence of the
sea when driven by the north winds -which in-
dicated its entire destruction in the future -the
superior government decided to construct a stable
barrier, by which the so great damage that was
feared might be prevented. This was carried out by
the engineer then in charge, by constructing in the
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 103
water a barrier of stone and mortar, large enough to
be able to resist such attacks, and of height equal to
that of the highest tides, on a foundation of pile-
work and beams. This work extended from the
point of the Ribera, on the side which was endan-
gered, until it reached the northern tower of the cur-
tain which is mentioned in the preceding paragraph
-that is, the entire length of Cavite. Upon this
breakwater he raised a parapet with its banquette,
in which were formed the bastions, demi-bastions,
flanks, and curtains, as this line gave opportunity,
and in the plan of Cavite they are indicated ; but all
these works were at the level of the water. For its
greater permanency, command was given to cast into
the water outside, at the foot of the pile-work, a
number of stone-heaps ; since these are always mul-
tiplying themselves, an evident benefit has resulted.
The arms and supplies for the maintenance of
these forts are those which here are scheduled.
Artillery, mounted and dismounted, in the port of
Cavite, with all that is necessary for its handling
Bronze cannons Caliber Iron cannons Caliber
10
1
6
1
4
2
43
2
1
3
9
3
1
4
21
4
2
6
46
6
26
8
25
8
4
10
35
10
IS
12
15
12
4
14
8
H
1
16
1
16
19
18
4i
18
104 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Bronze
cannons
Caliber
I
ron
cannons
Caliber
10
25
1
20
7
30
2
35
2
40
1
stone-mortar,
of 300 lib
ras.
109 bronze cannons. 257 iron cannons.
Military supplies kept in reserve, independent of
those used in actual service
2 esmerils of bronze, of 8-onza caliber.
4 small iron cannon, of the same caliber.
101 swivel-guns, with 216 chambers and quoins,
of iron.
16,905 iron cannon-balls, suitable for the said ar-
tillery.
207 bar-shots of iron, "diamond point."
67 iron crowbars.
22 iron angelots.7
190 iron grenades.
142 muskets.
221 match-lock arquebuses.
16 guns, some with bayonets.
9 pistols.
1 blunderbuss.
6,672 balls corresponding to these weapons -2,910
of iron, 62 angel - [i.e., double-headed]
shot, and the rest of lead.
480 hand-weapons - Turkish swords, broad-
swords, cutlasses [machetes'], lances, pikes,
halberds, partisans, half-moons, spears,
languinatas, and spontoons.
400 arrobas of gunpowder, kept in reserve.
7 Possibly guns for firing chain-shots (also called "angel-shots").
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 105
The fighting men of the said port of Cavite and
its fortress (who are in one body, just as the above-
mentioned supplies are considered collectively) com-
prise three companies of Spanish infantry -one
commanded by the warden, another by the sargento-
mayor, and another by a captain -with 180 soldiers
in all, with their leading officers and minor posts.
There is also a captain of artillery, with twenty-four
artillerymen; the deputy of the castellan; three
orderlies; two carpenters for the gun-carriages of
the artillery; and one military notary. There is,
besides, a company of Pampango infantry with its
master-of-camp, sargento-mayor, and other officers,
with two hundred and twenty regular soldiers, one
hundred and twenty of whom are assigned to work
as sawyers. All the officers and soldiers, both Span-
iards and Pampangos (except the warden and the
notary) receive a suitable ration of rice and their
pay in cash monthly. The wages amount to 11,500
pesos, and the rations to 3,084 fanegas of rice. These
are furnished from the royal treasury and the store-
houses in Manila, according to the list here set
down.
Officers', The warden, 100 pesos; the sargento-
mayor, 25 p. ; one captain of Spanish infantry, 15 p.;
the alferezes, each 4 p. ; the sergeants, each 3 p. ; one
captain of artillery, 15 p.; the deputy of the- cas-
tellan, 15 p. ; three orderlies, each 6 p. ; one military
notary, 8 p.; the Pampango master-of-camp, 10 p.;
the sargento-mayor of that people, 6 p., 4 t. ; the
alferez, sergeant, and adjutant of the said nation,
each 2 p., 4 t.
Soldiers'. The Spanish soldiers, each 2 pesos; the
pages, standard-bearers, drummers, and fifer, each
106 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
2 p. ; the artillerymen, each 2 p. ; two carpenters for
the artillery, each 2 p.; minor posts in the Pam-
pango company -standard-bearer, fifer, and drum-
mer-each \blank~\ p., 6 t. ; 220 Pampango soldiers,
each 1 p., 2 t. Of the Pampangos the following re-
ceive extra pay, with the title of sawyers : three each,
4 p. ; another, 2 p., 4 t. ; another, 2 p. ; and eighteen
others, each 1 p., 4 t.
The place which is now called "Ribera of Ca-
vite" includes all the ground from the point of
Cavite to Fort San Phelipe. All this is enclosed,
with two gates, [which are] at the angles flanked by
the bastions - that of the powder-magazine on the
northern side, and by that of Chachara [i.e., "Chit-
chat"] on the southern side. Although these pas-
sages had formerly been open, it was considered best
to shut them off thus, in order to check the frequent
thefts that were committed of nails and other furnish-
ings at times when ships were being repaired or
built ; but in doing so a narrow strip was left, in or-
der to furnish a path for the work-people from the
Ribera, thus forming the barbette battery; and this
strip has preserved the principal curtain of the fort
from the continual former lashings of the waves of
the sea.
On this Ribera is located the shipyard, where the
galleons, pataches, galleys, and galliots of his Majesty
are constructed into ships; also here is the bridge
which is used for careening the said ships, and others
that belong to private persons. It also includes the
royal iron-works, where are forged the iron tools and
instruments, of all kinds and sizes, that are necessary
for the said construction; and the workshops of the
various artisans who are daily at work on this Ri-
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1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 109
bera. There are separate storehouses for the masts,
anchors, cables, rigging, and other kinds of cordage ;
for cannon, and for gun-carriages; and generally
for all the military supplies and nautical equip-
ments, with the dwelling-houses of their principal
officers. All this was built by the present govern-
ment, and with so good management that in a short
time, and without confusion, everything necessary
for this purpose was constructed, repaired, or
equipped. Other royal buildings which are not in-
cluded in the Ribera are indicated on the chart of
this port, for which reason I omit notice of each.
All this arrangement for the navy-yard of the
Ribera, although it is planned for the benefit of all
vessels, whether native or foreign, is chiefly designed
for those of his Catholic Majesty, and more espe-
cially for the galleons which annually make the
voyage to Nueva Espafia; these are built, equipped,
and supplied in this port and Ribera. A sufficiently
detailed account of these will be given in the follow-
ing lists.
Ribera of Cavite
Master workmen in the navy-yard : one captain of
the Point, yearly, 300 pesos; one alferez of the sea-
men, 120 p.; one sergeant of the said men, 90 p.;
four corporals, and one watchman, 180 p.; two chief
pilots, 240 p.; two assistant pilots, 192 p.; one ex-
aminer and inspector of the royal works of the port,
300 p. ; one constable for the storehouse of provisions,
120 p.; one surgeon, 96 p.; one coxswain of the
galley, 120 p.; one chaplain for the galley, 180 p.;
one foreman of the royal iron-works, 300 p.; one
foreman of rope-making, 120 p. ; one foreman of the
1 1 0 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
cooper shop, 240 p.; one foreman for the artisans8
of the artillery, 120 p.; another overseer of the
aforesaid, 30 p. ; one head overseer of the carpenters,
360 p.; another, his assistant, 300 p.; one director
of works, 300 p. All, except the father chaplain,
receive rations of rice.
Workmen in the navy-yard'. 226 seamen (of
whom 16 serve as captains), with different rates of
pay according to their various employments, and,
with corresponding rations of rice; this amounts
each year to 5,201 p., 4 t., 6 granos; 166 common
seamen, with the same pay and ration of rice, yearly
2,490 pesos ; to the convicts on the royal galleys are
issued rations of 516 cavans of clean rice, which with
22 p., 4 t. for oil for the lanterns, and 300 p. a year
for fish, salt, and vinegar, will be worth 580 p.;
eight ropemakers, with rations of rice and different
rates of pay according to their different kinds of
work, amounting yearly to 198 p.; 16 coopers, with
different rates of pay and rations of rice, receive
yearly 351 p., 9 granos ; 152 men for using the augers,
at various rates of pay, including rice, receive yearly
3,920 p., 4 t. ; tool-grinders, at various rates of pay,
receive yearly, including the value of the rice, 594
p.; 305 artisans [pandayes] (15 of them in the
artillery) , with various rates of pay, and the amount
of the ration of rice, receive yearly 372s p.; 33
8 Pandayes : a term adapted from the Tagal, panday being the
equivalent of the Spanish oficial.
9 Thus in MS., but evidently a clerical error, since the amount
of pay is so inadequate for the number of men. The amounts
of pay given in these lists, added together, make a total which is
over 7,000 pesos short of the total in the next paragraph; it is
probable, then, that the pay of these artisans should be at least
7,000 more than the amount stated in the text.
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS III
painters (two in the artillery), according to their
different rates of pay, with rations, 495 p.; 135
blacksmiths, with rations and various rates of pay,
amount to 4,644 p.; 31 Lascars, barraqueros,10 at dif-
ferent rates of pay, receive annually 709 p.; 16 car-
penters, at various rates of pay, with the value of
their rations, receive 1,452 p. ; 4 overseers, at various
rates of pay, with rations, 300 p. ; the hand-sawyers
and the calkers (not only natives, but Sangleys) re-
ceive, according to the day-wages for which they
work, without a ration of rice, wages amounting in
one year to 14,922 p., 3 t, 6 granos; the galagale-
ros,11 the Indians who work in repartimiento as
ropemakers and woodcutters, and the raftsmen, at
various rates of pay according to their work, and in
rice, receive each year 2,714 p., 1 t.
All the aforesaid people in the navy-yard on the
Ribera of Cavite receive yearly 49,948 p., 3 t.,
8 granos, in which is included the value of 26,174
cavans, 11 gantas of rice, which is consumed in the
rations given to each person; but from this are ex-
cluded the father chaplain, the sawyers, and the
calkers. This amount, in summary form, is the same
which the royal officials now certify, omitting the
details of each item on account of the great prolixity
10 Perhaps meaning men who had the care of keeping the bar-
racks in order and repair. The word is not found in the dic-
tionaries.
11 A word evidently coined from the native word galagala
(see vol. xii, p. 34, note), and probably referring to the occupa-
tion of gathering the resin which bears that name. It may be
added to the note above cited that this resin (also known as
"almaciga" and "dammar") is obtained in the mountains of south-
ern Luzon and Panay, the best coming from Camarines. {Offi-
cial Handbook of Philippines, p. 296) ; galagala, then, may be
a Bicol word.
1 1 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
which would be caused by stating the various assign-
ments of pay which correspond to the various offices
and work, and reserving the full statement for the
annual report with which the royal officials fulfil
their duty.
Preparation of the ships'. Since the chief employ
of the navy-yard at the Ribera at Cavite is the build-
ing and equipment of his Majesty's ships, and, speci-
fically, those which are annually despatched to
Nueva Espafia with the merchandise that is allowed
to that commerce and for the royal situado - in which
construction is expended the amount from the royal
treasury already mentioned - to it also belong the ex-
penses of the entire outfit for the ships, the pay of the
naval and military officers, great and small, the men
for the crews, and the provision of necessary supplies.
As regards expense caused by these things, it is in-
cluded in the certification of the royal officials in
their general statement of purchases; this brief rela-
tion refers the reader to that account, avoiding the
annoyance of so long a schedule, and here is given
only the list of the men assigned to this employ - the
computation being now made from the two pataches,
the flagship and the almiranta, which in the year
1736 were manned in this form:
Officers of the ships : The commander of the flag-
ship ("Nuestra Seiiora de Cabdalonga") with
salary of 4,125 pesos; the captain of the almiranta
("Nuestra Senora del Pilar") 2,750 p.; the chap-
lains of the two pataches, each 75 p., 150 p.; two
chief pilots, each 300 p., 600 p. ; two assistant pilots,
each 150 p., 300 p.; two mates, each 150 p., 300 p.;
two head gunners, each 150 p., 300 p.; two boat-
swains, each 150 p., 300 p. ; two carpenters, each 150
p., 300 p.; two calkers, each 150 p., 300 p.; two
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS I 1 3
divers, each 150 p., 300 p. ; two notaries, each 100 p.,
200 p.; two storekeepers, each 100 p., 200 p.; two
surgeons, each 100 p., 200 p.; two stewards, each
100 p., 200 p.; two water-guards, each 100 p., 200
p.; two additional pilots, each 150 p., 300 p. Total,
11,025 pesos.
The men of the crews: 64 artillerymen, each 100
p., amount to 6,400 p. ; 160 mariners in the crews of
the said pataches, at the rate of 75 p. each, 12,000 p. ;
72 Spanish common seamen in the said crews, at the
rate of 50 p. each, 3,600 p.; 120 deck-hands in the
said crews at 25 p., 3,000 p. ; extra pay issued to the
royal official timekeeper, who made these payments,
25 p. Total, 25,025 pesos.
Adding together these amounts for pay of officers
and crews, the total is 36,050 pesos.
DESCRIPTION OF FORT SAN PEDRO IN THE
CITY OF SANTISSIMO NOMBRE DE
JESUS, IN ZEBU
In the island of Zebu, which is regarded as the
center of all the islands of Pintados -it is thirty
leguas long, twelve wide, and eighty in circuit -is
the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. It is the
capital of this province, wherein, amid the evident
ruins of its former opulence, is preserved, close to
the city, the fort of San Pedro. It is built of stone
and mortar, with a terreplein, and is situated on a
point on the shore of the sea, in io° of north latitude,
and 161 ° 47' of east longitude;12 it is distant from
the capital, Manila, ninety-six leguas to the south-
east, and is five degrees south of that city.
The shape of this fort is triangular, with three
12 Cebii is in io° 18' N. latitude, and 1230 53' 05" E. longi-
tude (U. S. Gazetteer of Philippine Islands, p. 454).
H4 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
bastions having straight flanks; it is 1,248 feet in cir-
cuit. Its curtains are of unequal length, and in that
one which fronts the city, toward the northwest, is
the gate of the fort. This is masked by an outer work
of stakes, of square shape, with its gate to the city;
and a palisade extends the whole length of the cur-
tain, in the form of a fausse-braye.
This fort contains the necessary buildings, as they
are indicated on its plan; it has also arms and
soldiers, as herewith stated.
Arms and supplies
13 pieces of bronze artillery, caliber 2 and 4.
18 iron cannons, caliber 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 14.
2 bronze mortars, with iron pivots.
6 bronze stone-mortars.
12 chambers.
50 pinzotes.
250 arquebuses and muskets.
1,826 iron balls for the artillery.
14,055 lead balls for the muskets, arquebuses, and
pinzotes.
294 grenades.
500 arrobas of gunpowder, with small-arms and
hand weapons, are kept in reserve, as is
certified by the royal officials.
All the above, with the clothing [for the soldiers],
and the replenishment of arms and gunpowder, is
provided from the capital, Manila, in accordance
with the orders of this government.
The military force
A captain of Spanish infantry, who is the alcalde-
mayor, with monthly pay of 25 pesos; an alferez of
viAN DELA FVERZA SAKJ
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i
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Cebu and its fortifications, ca. 1742
[Photographic facsimile from original MS. in Museo-Biblioteca de
Ultramar, Madrid^
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 117
the said company, with 3 p.; a sergeant, 2 p.; an
orderly, 4 p.; a lieutenant of the fort, 4 p.; 57
regular soldiers, each 1 p. ; 4 minor posts - page,
fifer, drummer, and standard-bearer, each 1 p. ; 6
artillerymen, each 1 p. ; a captain of the Pampango
company, 4 p. ; his alferez, 1 p., 4 t. ; the sergeant,
1 p.; twenty [Pampango] soldiers, and three minor
posts -page, drummer, and standard-bearer - each
4 t. ; one position as overseer of the iron-forge, 3 p. ;
two others, as shoremaster and overseer of buildings,
2 p. ; another as pilot, 1 p. Each one of the said per-
sons receives a monthly allowance of half a fanega
(which is one cavan) of rice.
The maintenance of this military post amounts to
1,584 pesos and 624 fanegas of rice every year; this
expense is paid out of the proceeds of the tributes
and other revenues which are collected on his
Majesty's account in the said province of Zebu.
DESCRIPTION OF FORT NUESTRA SENORA DEL
PILAR AT SAMBOANGAN
This fort is in the town of Samboangan,13 a sepa-
13 In the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), iv, pp.
335-408, is the transcript of an interesting document -"Informa-
tion furnished by Don Jose Antonio Nino de Villavicencio in re-
gard to the situation of the town of Zamboanga; its original sub-
ordination to the royal crown; its fortification, dismantling, and
reestablishment; the condition in which it was in 1737; its ex-
penses; and the amounts which it paid toward these." After a
sketch (illustrated by various official documents) of the early
history of Zamboanga as a military post, he relates its disman-
tling, and its reestablishment by Bustamante; this latter is begun
on April 5, 17 19, under the command of General Gregorio Pa-
dilla y Escalante, and its fort is named " Nuestra Senora del Pilar
de Zaragoza." Villavicencio carefully describes the fort, and
presents an itemized statement of the expenses of maintaining
it -which amount to 20,000 pesos annually, besides a reserve
fund of 5,000 pesos which may be drawn upon for extraordinary
I I 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
rate jurisdiction with a chief magistrate, who is the
governor of this military post. It is situated in the
and urgent expenses. The salary of the governor and military
commander is 396 pesos a year. Two Jesuit chaplains are kept
there, who receive each 100 pesos annually. There are eighteen
other officers (commissioned and non-commissioned), and two hun-
dred privates ; also five other officials, including a surgeon. Besides
this force of Spaniards is a company of Pampango soldiers - a
hundred men and five officers ; and a considerable number of men
are also employed as rowers, builders, coast-guards, and seamen.
Rations amounting to 9,855 cavans of rice are allowed in the
budget of expenses; and the sum of 5,000 pesos is allowed yearly
for ammunition and military supplies for this post. The rice
and other provisions are mainly furnished from the provinces of
Iloilo and Panay, on account of their fertility and their nearness
to Zamboanga. A considerable part of the expenses of that post
is obtained from the contribution made by the inhabitants of the
subjugated provinces, each tributario giving annually a ganta of
clean rice; this amounts to 109,503 gantas of clean rice -equiva-
lent, at the rate of twenty gantas cleaned to 48 gantas of palay, to
10,950 cavans of the latter - which is estimated to be worth, at the
prices paid by the royal officials, 5,356 pesos. Enumeration is
made of the numbers of tributes paid in various provinces, as fol-
lows: Tondo, 5,6063/2; Bulacan, 4,963 34 ; Pampanga, 8,067;
Pangasinan, 10,8963/2; Ilocos, 8,665^; Cagayan, 5,218^2 ; La-
guna de Bay, 6,795; Tayabas, 1,612^2; Camarines, 7,512; Albay,
3,481; Panay, 6,170^; Yloilo, 10,40634 ; Island of Negros,
503 y2 ; Leite, 8,15434? Cebu, 4,4113/2. All these are tributaries
of the crown; to these are added the contributions made by "the
tributaries and the encomenderos of the encomiendas independent
of the royal crown," which amount to 18,144 gantas. A deduc-
tion must be made from these of 1,105^4 gantas, "from those who
in the number of the said tributes do not make this contribution,
on account of being servants of the churches, and for other rea-
sons;" the result is the total above given. The tributaries of the
following provinces are exempted from the contribution : Balayan,
Mindoro, Caraga, Mariveles, Calamianes, and Cavite. A further
source of revenue for the expenses of Zamboanga is found in the
monopoly on the wine of the country ; this had formerly belonged
to the crown, but had been surrendered at the petition of the city
of Manila. Later, the citizens being called upon to make dona-
tions for the support of Zamboanga, the city petitioned that this
be accomplished by renewing the above crown monopoly of wine.
"This new monopoly having begun to be in force from the year
1 73 1, the sum at which this contribution [to Zamboanga] may
be estimated must be figured according to the successful bids
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 119
great island of Mindanao, near the promontory
which is called Punta de la Caldera, in 70 4' north
[remates] at which the privilege has been leased;" it was farmed
out -that is, sold at auction to the highest bidder for a term of
three to five years. The first of these was Don Esteban Garcia
de los Rios, for 1731-33, for the sum of 10,000 pesos a year; the
second, Captain Pedro de Ceballos, for 1734-36, 15,500 pesos a
year; the third, Captain Jose Ruiz, for 1737-41, 25,000 pesos a
year. The proceeds of this monopoly, then, averaged during
eleven years 16,833' pesos a year. This document is dated at
Manila, February 4, 1738.
In regard to the contributions made by the Indians for the ex-
penses (outside of ecclesiastical) of the Philippine colonies, To-
rrubia says (Dissertation, pp. 98-103) : "When the post of Sam-
boangan was rebuilt in the year 1735, it was the opinion of the
very reverend Father Juan de Bueras, provincial of the Society
of Jesus, that the Indians of Pintados, as those most interested in
the maintenance of the fort, should aid therein with a half-ganta
of rice for each tribute. His opinion was accepted, but with the
enlargement of the contribution to two gantas (which make one
ganta of cleaned rice), and its extension to all the islands, which
amount is paid up to this day. I have understood that this con-
tribution amounts annually, on the average, to two thousand five
hundred pesos. During the fifty and more years when Samboangan
did not exist, it was paid just as when the fort was there, not-
withstanding that the cabildo opposed it; and the Indians paid,
without the motive for this imposition still remaining, at the least
estimate, more than one hundred and fifty thousand pesos. The
Indians are obliged to make other contributions. For the main-
tenance of the soldiers, they furnish rice to his Majesty at two
reals a caban, and usually it is worth more; this is called the
compra, and forty or forty-five thousand cabans (or fanegas) of
rice are levied from them in compra, allotting it pro rata according
to what each Indian sows. For these cabans (or fanegas) no
more than two reals are paid, although that amount is worth four
reals, or more ; and it is to be noted that in the suburbs of Manila
the price ordinarily does not go below three reals. The same prac-
tice is current in the compras of wheat, although it is true that in
this the Indians seldom lose much. Besides this, the Indians do
the timber-cutting for the ships, and do not receive more than
sixteen reals a month, which they do not have even for their tools
(which they carry with them) ; they are soldiers, they row in the
galleys, and they are mariners, artillerists, calkers, and carpenters.
And we know very well that in these occupations they serve in
the Ribera of Cavite without pay, and likewise in the armadas,
three, four, or five years, only to obtain a situation in the ship
120 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
latitude, and 1600 30' east longitude;14 it is distant
from the capital, Manila, 134^ leguas south by east,
and four degrees to the east.
which goes to Nueva Espana or Acapulco. Here [i.e., in Madrid],
without considering these contributions, all the expenses [of the
islands] are summed up for the account of his Majesty." He goes
on to say that from the sum of expenses must also be deducted the
voluntary contributions of the citizens; also that these military
expenses have been unfairly laid at the door of the Zamboanga
fort. The soldiers there and in the forts at Cebu and Iloilo are
paid from the situado contributed by the natives themselves; and
the fleets which are sent against the Moros, and the coastguard
galleys at Zamboanga, are not an expense caused by the fort there ;
"even if they were, it is a necessary one, under penalty of the
Moros eating us alive."
Torrubia ends his Dissertacion, which is a plea for the main-
tenance of the fort at Zamboanga, with a scheme for the formation
of a fund - to be formed by levying a small tax on each of the
Christian Sangleys, and on every "tramp," whether Indian or
mestizo — which shall be regarded as an obra pia, and be placed
in the management of the Misericordia ; its proceeds are to be
used for the support of the military posts and fleets which are
maintained against the Moros, for the support of missionaries in
the Moro provinces, and even for the extension of the gospel still
further. This would relieve the natives from the oppressive "Zam-
boanga donation," the citizens from the frequent contributions
now expected from them by the government, and the royal treas-
ury from the heavy burden of supporting the present list of
armadas and forts; and the Moro pirates would be easily held
in check, and the interests of both the Spaniards and the Indians
protected.
"Zamboanga is in 6° 53' N. latitude, and 123 ° 5' E. longi-
tude (£7. S. Philippine Gazetteer, p. 928).
Zamboanga was selected as the site for the fort in Moroland,
"because it was the indispensable landing-place for the hostile peo-
ple; because it deprived the Mindanaos of that port, which was
the most important one in their dominion, in which they built their
ships, and where they took refuge from an enemy; because it was
the most suitable place for our infantry; and because it was the
frontier of all the islands of Moroland, where those enemies landed,
recruited their forces, and repaired their vessels. It also was the
point of vantage for intimidating those kings, and depriving Min-
danao of half its power; and for facing (at three leguas distance)
Basilan, the people of which are so valiant, and subject to Jolo,
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1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 23
This fort is constructed of stone and mortar, with
a terreplein, at the entrance of the town, on the sea-
shore; the beach surrounds it on the eastern and
southern sides, along which it has also, externally, a
palisade. On the western side, where the gate is, it
has a marsh for a moat; and on the northern side,
which faces the dwellings, it has an artificial moat.
Its shape is that of a rectangle, with four full bas-
tions-three with straight flanks, and one with an
orillon ; it has a circuit of 820 feet, and in it are en-
closed the necessary buildings, as the plan shows.
The town has its own special fortifications; for
on the eastern side it has a long curtain of palisades,
in the midst of which there is a semicircular plat-
form, which defends it. On the northern side there
is a long curtain of stone and mortar, flanked at the
east by a bastion with orillon, called Santa Catha-
lina; and at the west by a cavalier of rectangular
shape, called Santa Barbara. This curtain has its
palisade, which ends on the western side of this
town, at some distance from the said cavalier; and
the rest of this said side has some marshes for de-
fense. The said wall and curtain of this town is
surrounded by a canal, full of water, ten or twelve
feet wide ; and it connects with the said marshes.
The arms, supplies, and soldiers with which this
military post is maintained and defended are stated
in the following lists :
so that that king also is thus disarmed of half his forces. To this
was added the consideration that the post had Christian Indians
as neighbors, who, free from the extortions of the Moros, would
aid in the conquest [of those lands] and the extension of our
power and of our faith, as has been actually done." (Torrubia, pp.
45, 46.)
I 24 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Arms and supplies of this post
24 bronze cannons, of caliber 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12.
1 bronze culverin, caliber 4.
1 mortar of the same, caliber 18.
45 iron cannons, calibers 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and
18.
17 stone-mortars of the same [material], cali-
bers 3 and 4.
58 chambers.
8 blunderbusses, 5 of bronze and 3 of iron.
11 pinzotes.
253 guns, muskets, and arquebuses.
698 grenades, loaded and unloaded.
1 pair of pistols.
2 short carbines [terzerolas~\.
8,407 lead and iron balls, suitable for the artillery.
39,104 lead balls, for the arquebuses, guns, and
muskets.
500 arrobas of gunpowder, as regular supply.
Other weapons, for hand use, minor supplies, and
all the rest that is necessary for handling [the artil-
lery], are enumerated in a separate certified state-
ment by the royal officials.
Military force in the post of Samboangan
One captain of the first company of the Spanish
infantry, a post which is held by the governor of this
town, with a monthly salary of 50 pesos ; its alferez,
4 p.; its sergeant, 3 p.; an aide-de-camp, 6 p.; 74
Spanish soldiers, each 2 p.; three minor posts -
page, standard-bearer, and drummer -each 2 p.
The captain of the second Spanish company, 15 p.;
its alferez, 4 p. ; its sergeant, 3 p.; 68 soldiers, and
three minor posts -page, drummer, and standard-
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 25
bearer - each 2 p. The captain of the third Spanish
company, who commands the armada, 15 p.; its
alferez, 4 p.; its sergeant, 3 p.; 58 soldiers, and 3
minor posts - page, standard-bearer, and drummer -
each 2 p. A head gunner for the artillery, 4 p. ; a
lieutenant and paymaster for this post, 15 p.; a
surgeon, 5 p. ; a notary for this post, 3 p. ; 2 amanu-
enses, hired by the day, each 3 p., 6 t. ; 2 chaplains
for the infantry, by the year, each 100 p. A cap-
tain of the company of Pampango infantry, with
monthly pay of 4 p., 4 t. ; its alferez, 2 p., 4 t. ; its
sergeant, 2 p., 4 t. ; 100 Pampango soldiers, each 1
p., 2 t. ; 2 minor posts - page, and standard-bearer -
each 6 t. One master armorer, 3 p. ; 2 skilled tilers,
each 2 p., 4 t. ; 15 supernumerary seamen, paid at
various rates, by the month, \blank\ All these
people receive a suitable ration of rice.
Coastguard galleys at Samboangan
At this post are maintained, as a measure of pre-
caution by this superior government since the past
year of 1730, two coastguard galleys (a flagship and
an almiranta), with [a crew of] 96 impressed men
[forzados'], and with all the supplies necessary for
their outfit; care is also taken to repair and fortify
them. They have been kept up as an armament
necessary at this time for checking the insolence of
the neighboring Moros, who attack the villages of
the territory under the royal crown. In regard to
the maintenance of these galleys, and the amount of
supplies and the number of soldiers and sailors
[required for them], although all this is found in-
cluded in the expenditures of the royal treasury as
actual expenses it must be borne in mind that they
1 26 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
are not perpetual, but accidental and extraordinary,
according to the movements of our enemies. For
this reason, these items of expense are sometimes in-
cluded and sometimes omitted in the statements of
accounts, according to the differences of time and
occasion.
Galliots at Samboangan
More permanent at this post are the two galliots
which are, by act of the general council of the
treasury, maintained there since the year 1729, as
necessary in those seas, so rough and so infested with
enemies, for transporting from the province of
Ogtong and the storehouses of Yloylo the rice and
other provisions which are needed in this post [of
Samboangan]. The amount needed for the pay of
these seamen is sent from the royal treasury of Ma-
nila.
The entire maintenance of this post of Sambo-
angan amounts each year to 12,592 pesos, 2 tomins,
and 7,108 cavans (which are 3,554 fanegas) of rice,
according to the last balancing of the accounts. To
meet this expense, a situado is sent from the royal
treasury of Manila, the number of pesos correspond-
ing to the amount of the fixed charges, and to that
of the accidental expenses when there are any. The
clothing, gun-powder, supplies for replenishing the
storehouses, cordage and sails, other supplies for
vessels, supplies for the hospital and other offices of
that post -all these are provided from the royal
storehouses of Manila; while from those of Yloylo
is sent the* rice for the rations, with other foodstuffs,
in which that province abounds.
In order to meet the said expenses, there is set
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 27
aside the value of the ganta of clean rice which was
offered, contributed as a gift, by every whole tribute
(of two persons) in the provinces subject to the
royal crown -those of Balayan, Mindoro, Caraga,
Marivelez, Calamianes, and Cavite being exempted
from this contribution - the amount of which is
regularly more than 3,500 pesos a year. For the said
expenses is also applied the value of the wine
monopoly, which, at the rate of the last sale to the
highest bidder, produces 25,000 pesos annually. To
this is added the amount of the pay, rations, and
supplies of the officers and soldiers who, at the time
when this post was reestablished, were detailed to
serve in it, from those of Cavite, Yloylo, and Zebu.
[Part II]
THE ECCLESIASTICAL ESTATE
[Title-page:'] The ecclesiastical estate in the
aforesaid Philipinas islands: Its archbishopric and
its suffragan bishops, and the territory which each
one includes. Their cathedrals, with the dignities,
canonries, and prebends, with which they are en-
dowed; the stipends and offerings which they
receive; and the amounts allotted to the other
churches, colleges, and hospitals in the district.
Active encomiendas which are at this present time
enjoyed by the various corporations and by private
persons; and those in which the tributes are col-
lected on his Majesty's account for the objects to
which they were granted. Missions established,
with a statement of their locations and the expenses
which they occasion; settlements of Indians who
have been subdued, distinguishing the ministries,
conducted by the secular ecclesiastics and the reli-
gious; the neophytes whom they direct; what they
receive on account of this, not only on his Majesty's
account, but from the natives themselves, with a
summary of the total of both. Added to this rela-
tion by Don Pablo Francisco Rodriguez de Berdo-
zido, accountant, royal official for his Majesty in
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 120
these Philipinas Islands, and the senior official of
those who have appointments in the royal treasury
therein. In the year 1742.
The holy cathedral church of Manila
It has its archbishopric, the jurisdiction of which
includes the entire provinces of Tondo, Bulacan,
and Pampanga; Taal (or Balayan) as far as Min-
doro and Marinduque ; all the coast of Zambales,
as far as the district and bay of Bolinao ; Laguna de
Bay and its mountains, as far as and including
Mahayhay; the jurisdictions of Cavite, Marivelez,
and the city of Manila. At the present time the see
is vacant by the death of his very illustrious and
reverend Lordship, the master Don Fray Juan
Angel Rodriguez, of the Order of the Most Holy
Trinity for the Redemption of Captives; and it en-
joys as a yearly stipend 5,000 pesos of common gold,
in virtue of the decree by his Majesty dated at Ma-
drid on May 28, 1680. The said holy church has a
dean, with 600 pesos as annual stipend in virtue of
another royal decree of his Majesty; four digni-
taries - archdeacon, schoolmaster, cantor, and treas-
urer - with 500 pesos each a year, which amounts to
the sum of 2,000 pesos ; three canons (which include
a doctoral, a magistral, and an honorary prebend),
with 400 pesos each as yearly stipend, amounting to
1,200 pesos; two racioneros, with 300 pesos each as
annual stipend, amounting to 600 pesos ; two medio-
racioneros, each receiving 200 pesos a year, which
make 400 pesos ; and a master of ceremonies - a post
recently established by a royal decree dated at El
Pardo on February 22, 1734, with 200 pesos of
yearly stipend. The said holy church has also a
13° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
grant for its fabrica, material and spiritual,15 of 600
ducados of silver, which make 825 pesos. [Of this
sum] 500 ducados are for the pay of the verger, the
musicians, and others who serve it; and the remain-
ing 100 ducados are for the fabrica [i.e., the care of
the building]. It has also 400 pesos of offerings
each year -by another royal decree of April 12,
1734 -for the purchase of Castilian wine, with
which is celebrated the holy sacrifice of the mass;
olive-oil and balsam for the holy oils ; and cocoanut-
oil for the lamp which burns before the blessed
sacrament.
15 Fabrica (Latin, Italian, and Spanish; French, fabrique) : a
technical term in church administrative usage. The ordinary and
common meaning is the material building or edifice, which (tech-
nically) includes repairs, improvements, changes, etc., as well as
the necessary expense for caretakers of it, as watchmen, beadles,
sweepers, etc. ; these people are paid from the funds of the fabrica
— which might be rendered as "building-fund," except that in
ecclesiastical usage fabrica usually presupposes that the building
is already reared, while the English phrase "building-fund" in-
cludes the idea of constructing it. (Yet in Latin, Italian, and
Spanish the term fabrica is also used to include money for the erec-
tion of the church edifice, in cases where it has not yet been built ;
where it has been completed and paid for, fabrica is restricted to
the meaning first given above, the "keep" of the building.)
Thus usually the term has a material sense only ; but sometimes
(though not commonly) fabrica is taken, as in the present text,
in a spiritual sense, and implies the support or maintenance {hono-
raria) of the churchmen, the ministers attached to the building,
as well as the maintenance of divine worship, as required by ritual.
Fabrica then refers to affairs of the soul or spirit, the spiritual
upbuilding or edifice of the faithful. By extension, the same term
is sometimes used to mean the board of churchwardens who admin-
ister the property. In the Philippines the church property (save
that belonging to the religious corporations) was in the hands of
the bishop as sole trustee and administrator, a power which he
might delegate to his provisor or vicar. The distribution of the
fund mentioned in the text is unusual.- Rev. T. C. Middleton,
O.S.A.
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 31
The holy church of Zebu
It has its bishop, and its jurisdiction extends to
that entire province, and comprises that of Leyte
with its adjoining islands; the province of Caraga;
Panay, and the jurisdiction of Ogton and its islands,
as far as Calamyanes; Paragua, and the northern
coast of Mindanao, extending even to the Marianas
Islands. At the present time this church is governed
by his very illustrious Lordship, Don Protagio
Cavezas, who is bishop-elect; and he enjoys an an-
nual stipend of 4,000 pesos, by virtue of the royal
decree already cited of May 28, 1680. For the
fabrica, material and spiritual, of the said holy
church is assigned an encomienda of 1,783^ tributes
by royal decree of October 28, 1670; these are col-
lected on the account of his Majesty, and their value
(which is 2,000 pesos, after deducting all expenses)
is paid from this royal treasury to that prelate annu-
ally for the maintenance of chaplains, the purchase
of wax, oil, and wine, the pay of singers and sacris-
tans, and other expenses necessary to worship in the
said holy church.
Holy church of Nueva Cazeres
It has a bishop, and its jurisdiction embraces the
entire provinces of Camarines and Albay, as far as
and including the islands of Ticao, Masbate, Burias,
and Catanduanes; the province of Tayabas, as far
as and including Luchan ; and in the opposite coast
of Maoban, to Binangonan, Polo, Baler, and Casi-
guran. At present it is governed by his very illus-
trious Lordship Doctor Don Ysidoro de Arevalo,
who is the bishop-elect; and he enjoys a yearly
stipend of 4,000 pesos of common gold, conformably
I32 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
to the aforesaid royal decree. Likewise a payment
is made from the royal treasury, in virtue of a decree
by the supreme government and the council of the
royal treasury dated October 2, 1723, 200 pesos, for
priests of the choir, at 100 pesos each, as assistants of
the aforesaid illustrious lord. Another payment is
made of 400 pesos, assigned to this church by the
royal decree, dated at San Yldefonso on August 19,
1736, for the pay of singers, sacristans, and door-
keepers, and other expenses for worship and for the
[care of the] building of the aforesaid holy church.
It likewise has a contribution of 232 pesos, 4 tomins,
which is paid in 6 quintals of wax, 100 gantas of
cocoanut-oil, and 4 arrobas of Castilian wine, in con-
formity with another royal decree dated February
2i, 1705.
The holy church of Nueva Segovia
It has a bishop (whose title is of Cagayan), and
its jurisdiction comprises the province of Pangasi-
nan from the promontory of Bolinao, and that of
Ylocos; and Cagayan, as far as and including
Palauan on the opposite coast. At this time the see
is vacant by the death of his illustrious Lordship
Doctor Don Geronimo de Herrera y Lopez, and
this said bishopric enjoys an annual stipend of 4,000
pesos of common gold, in virtue of the royal decree
cited. It has two priests in the choir, to whom 200
pesos are paid yearly for their support, each 100
pesos, in virtue of a decree of the general council of
the treasury and of the supreme government, dated
December 23, 1723. It enjoys a contribution of 232
pesos, 4 tomins, which is paid to it in 6 quintals of
wax, 100 gantas of cocoanut-oil, and 4 arrobas of
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
J33
Castilian wine, in conformity with the royal decree
of February 21, 1675.
General summary of the amounts of the stipends,
funds for current expenses \jabricas~\, and contri-
butions belonging to the four cathedrals.
Cathedrals
Stipends
Expense funds
Contributions
Totals
Metropolitan, Manila
Cathedral, Zebu .
Id. N. Caceres .
Id. N. Segovia .
10,000 p.
4,000 p.
4,200 p.
4,200 p.
825 p.
2,000 p.
400 p.
4OO p.
232p.,4t.
232 p., 4t.
1 1,225 p.
6,000 p.
4,832p.,4t.
4,432 p., 41.
Totals . . .
22,400 p.
3,225 p.
865 p.
26,490 p.
CONVENTS, COLLEGES, HOSPITALS, AND HOUSES
WHICH ENJOY STIPENDS AND CONTRIBU-
TIONS FROM THE ROYAL TREASURY,
AND HAVE NO ADMINISTRATION
[OF PARISHES]
Within the walls of this city there is a royal
chapel with six chaplains, who render service in the
functions of the royal Audiencia; and it was espe-
cially instituted for the [spiritual] direction and
assistance of the soldiers who serve in this royal
army. Its expenses are met from the payments and
wages which are issued monthly from the royal
treasury, deducting from each of these a certain
amount called "the contribution" for the said royal
chapel, which amounts during the year to 6,004
pesos, 1 tomin. From this sum are paid annually
3,020 pesos for the salaries of chaplains and the ex-
penses of divine worship ; and the remainder is held
in the said royal treasury, in order with it to provide
for repairs on the aforesaid chapel, the renewal of
the ornaments, and other extraordinary expenses -
1 34 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
on account of which it is not brought into the com-
putation with the other allotments.
There is a royal hospital for the soldiers of the
regiment, with two chaplains, a steward, a physician,
a surgeon, and an apothecary, all salaried; and it is
provided with everything necessary for the comfort
and treatment of the sick. The proceeds of its en-
dowment annually amount to the sum -which is
paid to it in money, including the value of 8,400
fowls -of 7,891 pesos; 960 cavans of rice, 3 arrobas
of Castilian wine, and 384 gantas of cocoanut-oil.
The royal college and seminary of San Phelipe
was founded and erected by royal decrees of April
8, 1702, and December 21, 1712. It has a teacher of
grammar, and eight seminarists who serve in this
holy cathedral church in all its offices and functions
as a class; their maintenance amounts annually to
1,520 pesos in money, including other supplies
which are delivered from the storehouses - 360 ca-
vans of rice, one arroba of wine, and 192 gantas of
cocoanut-oil.
The seminary of Santa Potenciana was founded in
the year 1591, when Gomez Perez Dasmarinas was
governor of these islands, and was received under
the royal patronage. It has twenty-four inmates,
daughters of Spanish fathers, with their chaplain,
superior, doorkeeper, and other servants, all paid on
the account of his Majesty; their salaries and
maintenance amount each year to 2,476 pesos in
money. They receive also 504 cavans of rice, two
arrobas of wine, and 168 gantas of cocoanut-oil; in
this is also included the cost of the clothing for the
students and servants, that of divine worship, and
other lesser expenses. And for this it enjoys an en-
1728-1759I SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 35
comienda, by an act of the royal Audiencia dated
February 4, 1668, the income of which is collected
for the treasury, and its management and adminis-
tration is placed in charge of the royal official ac-
countant.
There are two royal chairs of canons and insti-
tutes, one in the college of San Ygnacio of the
Society of Jesus, and the other in the college of
Santo Thomas, of the Order of St. Dominic; these
were recently established, by royal decree of October
23, 1733, with two professors at salaries of 400 pesos
each, which make 800 pesos a year.
The brotherhood of the holy Misericordia, and
the seminary of Santa Ysabel for girls, in which a
great number of them are sheltered; these are ad-
ministered by a purveyor and twelve deputies, who
are appointed yearly. They take charge of the
incomes and charitable funds assigned to the said
house, from which is produced a sufficient amount
for the support of the establishment, for dowries, and
for other large charitable contributions, which they
distribute in accordance with the Constitutions of
the brotherhood. This house is at present under the
immediate protection of his Majesty, by his royal de-
cree of March 25, 1733 ; and it enjoys on the account
of the royal treasury only an encomienda of 963
tributes, by a royal grant of October 24, 1667, tne
net value of which will be set down in the proper
place.
The calced Augustinians have a convent of San
Pablo with an adequate number of religious, who
are annually assisted by this treasury with a contri-
bution of wine for celebrating the holy sacrifice of
mass, and oil for the lamp which burns before the
*36 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
blessed sacrament, in accordance with the late royal
order of his Majesty, dated September 15, 1726 -at
the rate of one arroba of wine for each priest, and
75 gantas of cocoanut-oil for each lamp.
The convent of San Gregorio, of discalced Fran-
ciscan religious, is likewise assisted by the contribu-
tion of wine and oil, in accordance with the aforesaid
royal order.
The monastery of the nuns of Santa Clara is like-
wise assisted with a contribution of wine and oil, in
virtue of the said royal decree; and besides this it
enjoys an encomienda, by decree of April 4, 1664,
the income of which is collected on the account of
his Majesty, and its net amount, which is paid from
the treasury, is 583 pesos.
The convent of the religious of St. Dominic, with
two colleges (named Santo Tomas, and San Juan de
Letran), enjoys the same contribution of wine and
oil, in accordance with the aforesaid royal decree.
It has likewise 400 pesos in money, and 800 cavans
of rice, for the stipend of four priests in active serv-
ice, who must reside in the said convent in virtue of
a royal decree dated July 23, 1639; and the said
college of San Juan de Letran enjoys an encomienda
of 700 tributes by royal grant of January 10, 1734,
the value of which will be entered in its class.
The college of San Ygnacio, of the fathers of the
Society of Jesus, and that of San Joseph, composed
of students, are likewise aided with a contribution
of wine and oil, in accordance with the aforesaid
royal decree. They likewise receive 400 pesos, and
800 cavans of rice, for the stipends of four priests in
active service who must reside in the said college of
San Ygnacio, in accordance with the royal decree
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS I 37
dated February 18, 1707. And the said college of
San Joseph enjoys an encomienda of 383^ tributes,
on account of 20,000 pesos which were granted to it
by royal decree of his Majesty dated October 5,
1703, the net value of which will be entered in the
class to which it belongs.
The convent of San Nicolas of the Recollect reli-
gious of St. Augustine similarly enjoys its contribu-
tion of wine and oil, in accordance with the said
recent royal decree of his Majesty.
The convent of San Juan de Dios is also assisted
with the contribution of wine and oil in virtue of the
said royal decree, and 50 pesos in medicines ; it also
enjoys an encomienda of 5413^2 tributes, by royal
grant of July 2, 1735, the net value of which will be
entered in the class to which it belongs.
Within the walls [of the city] are also contained
two beaterios - one of Dominican nuns, called Santa
Catharina, with sufficient incomes; and another
connected with the Society of Jesus, containing poor
Indian women, who are maintained by charity and
do not enjoy any allotment on the account of his
Majesty.
Outside the walls of this city is the hospital of San
Lazaro, in charge of discalced religious of St. Fran-
cis, for contagious diseases. This is annually assisted
from this royal treasury, in accordance with the
royal decree of January 22, 1672, with 787 pesos, 4
tomins in money, including the cost of 1,500 laying
hens, 200 blankets, and 1,500 cavans of rice; and one
arroba of wine for the celebration of the holy sacri-
fice of mass.
The church of Los Santos Reyes of the Parian,
and the hospital of San Gabriel for the Christian
13** THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Sangleys, and for medical treatment of them and of
the infidels, in charge of the religious of St. Domi-
nic, receive from the communal treasury of the San-
gleys themselves 2,400 pesos; and from the royal
treasury only the contribution of five arrobas of wine
for the aforesaid celebration of the holy sacrifice of
mass, and one hundred and fifty gantas of cocoanut-
oil for the lamps which burn before the depository
of the Divine One.
The sanctuary of our Lady of Safety and convent
of San Juan Bauptista, of the discalced religious of
St. Augustine, situated in Bagumbayan, enjoys only
the aforesaid contribution of wine and oil.
To the infirmary which the religious Order of St.
Dominic has, for the medical treatment of its reli-
gious, is paid every year 100 pesos as a contribution,
in accordance with the royal order of his Majesty,
dated September 4, 1667.
To the three infirmaries of the Order of St. Fran-
cis is paid every year a contribution of 329 pesos, for
the treatment of its sick religious who are in this city
and in the provinces of Laguna de Bay and Cama-
rines, in virtue of his Majesty's decree of October
30, 1600.
At the distance of one legua, or a little less, there
are two houses or sanctuaries - one named San Fran-
cisco del Monte, with two chapels close by, where
regularly serve one religious (a priest of the Order
of St. Francis), and one lay-brother, or donado of
the reformed branch, which is called "the house of
retreat or penance;" the other is called San Juan del
Monte, with a religious of the Order of St. Dominic
- and these enjoy only the contribution of wine.
The sanctuary of our Lady of Guadalupe, of
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
139
calced Augustinian religious, enjoys the same con-
tribution of wine and oil.
In the port of Cavite there is a convent of religious
of St. Dominic, and another of Recollect religious;
a college of the fathers of the Society of Jesus ; and
a hospice of the Order of St. John of God - all with-
out [parochial] administration; and they enjoy only
the contribution of wine and oil.
Likewise in the city of Zebu there is a convent of
calced Augustinians with three religious, priests;
another convent of discalced Augustinians, with one
priest; and a college of the Society of Jesus, with
two priests. In the port of Yloylo, in the province
of Ogton, the Society have another college with one
priest. The religious of St. Dominic have a convent
with two priests in the city of Nueva Segovia, in the
province of Cagayan. All these houses are without
administration, and enjoy only the same contribution
of wine and oil.
Summary of the amounts of the stipends and contri-
butions from the royal treasury which are enjoyed
b(y the convents, colleges, hospitals, and houses
which have no \jparochial~\ administration.
Convents, colleges, hospitals, and houses
Cash,
pesos
Rice,
cavans
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Royal military chapel
Royal hospital
7,891
960
3
384
Royal college of San Phelipe
1,520
360
1
I92
Royal seminary Sta. Potenciana
2,466
504
2
l68
Chairs of canon law and institutes
800
Brotherhood of Misericordia
Convent of S. Pablo (cal. Aug.)
25
75
Conv. S. Gregorio (disc. Fran.)
18
75
Monastery of Sta. Clara
583
2
75
Conv. St. Dominic, and two colleges
400
800
23
225
Coll. S. Ygnacio and S. Joseph
400
800
20
150
140
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
Convents, colleges, hospitals, and houses
Cash,
pesos
Rice,
cavans
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Conv. S. Nicolas (Recollect)
24
75
Conv. San Juan de Dios
50
2
75
Two beaterios (Domin. nuns and In-
dian women)
Hospital of San Lazaro
787"
1,500
1
Church of Parian and hospital of San
Gabriel
5
150
Sanctuary Our Lady of Safety
6
75
Infirmary for relig. of St. Dominic
IOO
Three infirmaries of St. Francis
329
Two sanctuaries, S. Juan and S. Fran-
cisco de los Montes
2
Sanct. of Our Lady of Guadalupe
2
Two conv., one coll., and one hos-
pital at port Cavite
12
225
Three conv., and two coll. in the
provinces
10
375
Totals
i5»326
4>924
158
*>3l9
ENCOMIENDAS OF INDIANS; HOW THEY WERE
GRANTED, AND THE OWNERS WHO
POSSESS THEM
In accordance with royal decrees of donation, his
Majesty has assigned encomiendas in these islands
to the extent of 18,04134 tributes. Of these, 8,78434
are assigned to four religious communities and
eleven private persons, and their net product is col-
lected by the encomenderos themselves or by their
agents ; and the remaining 9,257 are collected by the
royal officials of these islands for the subventions
and contributions which are stated in the aforesaid
grants. They are separately mentioned in the fol-
lowing form:
16 To this should be added 4 tomins, omitted in the table for
lack of room; the same addition should therefore be made to the
total of the cash column.
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
141
Encomiendas belonging to religious communities
and to private persons
[Grantees]
Date of grant
No. of
tributes
Value in cash,
p. t. gr.
Net receipts,
p. t. gr.
College of Sta. Ysa-
bel, this city
College of San Jos-
eph, on account
of 20,000 pesos
College of S. Juan de
Letran
Hospital of S. Juan
de Dios
D. Pedro de Garay-
coechea (2nd life)
D. Fernando Hidal-
go (2nd life)
D. Juan Francisco de
Salinas (2nd life)
D. Balthazar de Soto
(2nd life)
D. Antonio Gomez
Quixedo17(2ndlife)
Da. Josepha de Er-
quifiigo, Condeza
de Pineda, two
encomiendas
D. Juan Afan de Ri-
vera (2nd life)
D. Julian Fernandez
de Guevara (2nd
life)
Da. Monica de Ytu-
rralde (2nd life)
D. Nicolas Cortez
Monrroy (2nd
life)
Da. Maria Manuela
Rita Manzano
(2nd life), two
encomiendas
Oct. 24, 1 67 1
Oct. 5, 1703
Jan. 10, 1734
July 2, 1735
Oct. 30, 1690
Sept. 31 [sic; 2 1
or 30?], 1 701
June 21, 1705
June 1 1, 1709
July 15, 171 1
Dec. 19, 171 2
March 6, 171 5
June 30, 1721
July 30, 1 72 1
July 30, 1 72 1
July 14, 1738
963
383^
700
1,247
383
419^
35°3A
640
387^
470
233^
379
363
1,328 2 6
671 1
963 2 6
812 2
1,558 6
536 1 9
540 2 2
3646 2
880
1,659 2
406 6
5*7 4 5
256 6 9
5684
425 5
1,030 3 7
485 2 10
718 7 6
5841
960 o 4
3867 8
380 2 8
239 2 3
54° 3 6
1,036 6 2
271 5
342 ° 3
170 o 11
397 5 2
273 3 3
Totals
8,784^ 11,489 4 3 7,817 4 1
17 This name, also Pineda in the next item, and Manzano in
the last one, is abbreviated in the original; and the forms given
above are necessarily conjectural.
142
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
Encomiendas in which the collections are made on
his Majesty's account, to be applied to the objects
for which they were granted.
[Grantees]
Date of grant
No. of
tributes
Value in cash,
p. t. gr.
Net receipts,
p. t. gr.
The monastery of
Sta. Clara enjoys,
by decree of
The seminary of San-
ta Potenciana en-
joys for its main-
tenance, by act of
the royal Audien-
cia,
For the pay of the
lieutenant-general
of the artillery, he
possesses, by de-
cree of
To pay for the wine
for masses and oil
for the lamps, there
are, by decree of
For the maintenance
of the building of
the holy cathedral
church of Zebu, it
enjoys, by decree
of
Apr. 4, 1664
Feb. 4, 1668
Dec. 16, 1608
Apr. 8, 1668
Oct. 28, 1670
868
895^
4>272^
1,783^
971 6 10
2,078 5 4
1,044 l
5,913 2 6
2,690 3 1
583 06
1,492 5 5
692 7 8
4,760 6 9
2,000
Totals
9>257
12,698 2 9
9,529 44
These encomiendas, although they were granted
for the maintenance and existence of the five objects
here stated, have had the tributes collected on the
account of his Majesty with the aggregate of the
other tributes united to the royal crown, [the afore-
said sums] being paid by the royal treasury to the
parties concerned, not only the net amount of what
is due to each, but what is necessary for the existence
of those for whom they are destined, obtaining from
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 43
other sources indifferently whatever is lacking to
make up that sum. The amount of each is entered
in the corresponding summaries [of accounts] as a
charge upon the general fund of the treasury, ac-
cording to what the parties receive -not only in
cash, but in other assets from the royal storehouses -
in order to establish, with the distinction and clear-
ness which this memorandum permits, the total with
which his Majesty piously contributes to the preser-
vation of the ecclesiastical estate in these islands.
It is brought in here, in the account of the encomien-
das, only to show how it is applied, and not as an
increased charge on the royal treasury.
ACTIVE MISSIONS
There are at present thirty-nine apostolic mission-
aries, distributed among twenty-one active missions
which are situated in various places and provinces,
who are engaged in the conversion and settlement of
the infidels who dwell in the mountains in the
greater number of these islands. Of these, one is a
secular ecclesiastic; four belong to the calced Au-
gustinian religious; five are discalced Franciscans;
twenty are Dominicans; two belong to the Society
of Jesus, and seven to the Augustinian Recollects.
Aid is given to them on the account of his Majesty, in
accordance with his royal decrees, by the stipend of
100 pesos and 100 fanegas of rice to each missionary,
and with the military escorts necessary to their pro-
tection and to the safety of the subdued Indians.
Likewise they receive a monthly allowance for these
men, of one peso and one cavan of rice [for each],
to which is added the cost of transporting this pro-
vision to the places where they are, which sometimes
144
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
amounts to as much as the value of the principal.
The mission which now is especially considered to
have made the greatest progress and advancement is
that established in the mountains of Ytuy and Pani-
qui in the province of Cagayan, in charge of the
religious of the Order of St. Dominic -who, pene-
trating into the country, a task which had previously
been greatly facilitated by the calced religious of
the Order of St. Augustine, have brought that prov-
ince into communication with the others in this great
island (something which formerly could not be
done, except by sea) , with great harvest of souls who
have been converted to our holy Catholic faith.
These costs are stated in the following summary,
that which belongs to each mission being given
separately.
Summary of the expenses which the active missions
which are mentioned occasion to the royal ex-
chequer.
Provinces
Missionary ministers
Cash,
pesos torn.
Rice,
cavans
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
IK
2 missionaries of the
Society of Jesus, with
escorts and transpor-
tation
331
472
Pampanga
4 mission., calced Au-
gustinians, with es-
corts and transporta-
tion
960
I,o88
Idem
4 Dominicans, with es-
corts and transporta-
tion
820
I,Ol6
Idem
2 Augustinian Recol-
lects, with escorts
and transportation
480
544
2
I50
18 In the MS.
crossed out.
"Tondo" was written here, but afterward
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
H5
Provinces
Missionary ministers
Cash,
pesos torn.
Rice,
cavans
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Pangasinan
Idem
3 Dominicans, with es-
corts and transporta-
tion
2 Augustinian Recol-
lects, with escorts
537
744
Ylocos
Cagayan
and transportation
1 missionary, a secular
ecclesiastic
1 3 Dominicans, with
their escorts and
412
100
544
200
I
75
Laguna de Bay
transportation
1 Franciscan, with es-
4,030 4
4»352
Tayabas
cort and transporta-
tion
2 Franciscans, with their
189
272
Mindoro
Camarines
escorts and transpor-
tation
1 Augustinian Recollect
2 Franciscans,with their
616
151 5
200
75
Zebu
escorts and transpor-
tation
2 Augustinian Recol-
lects
412
200
544
400
10 provinces
39 missionaries, in 2
missions
9>z39 J
p. t.1*
10,376
cavans
3
arrob.
300
gantas
Ministers, and villages of converted Indians; the
stipends and offerings which they enjoy on this
account, according to the number of tributes to
whom they minister.
All the Indian neophytes - settled in four hundred
and fifteen villages and fifty-three visitas, which
compose the twenty-one provinces of the territory -
have their ministers of religious instruction, who
exercise toward them the office of parish priests.
These ministers are aided on his Majesty's account,
19 To this sum should be added 4 granos, omitted from the
amount of cash stated for Mindoro, for lack of room.
146
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
in accordance with the regulation made by the
adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi while he was
governor of these islands, which was approved by
royal decree of April 24, 1584. They received a
hundred pesos and a hundred fanegas of rice for
every five hundred tributes to whom they minister,
and the contribution of wine and oil which was
ordained by the late royal decree dated September
15 in the year 1726 -enjoying this without any
limitation of time. The separate provinces and
number of ministers, and the amount of expenses,
will be shown in the following tables :
Summary of the stipends which each religious order
is entitled to receive for the mission villages and
ministries that it has.
Secular ecclesiastics
Proyinces
Curates, sacristans, and
Cash,
Rice,
Wine,
Oil,
chaplains
P- t.
gr-
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Manila
2 curas, with their
sacristans
55i 3
6
2
150
Tondo
3 curas, with 3 sac-
ristans
743 2
1 1
200
3
2Z5
Cavite
2 curas, and 2 sacris-
tans
5i7 5
200
2
150
Mindoro
1 cura and 1 sacristan
223 3
1 1
1
75
Laguna de
Bay
3 curas
396 1
9
57
4
3
225
Balayan
2 curas
327 3
2
654
19
2
150
Cagayan
1 cura and 1 sacristan
358o
1
164
H
1
75
Idem
1 chaplain for the
fort
180
Ylocos
2 curas and 1 sacris-
tan
770 7
3
i,358
2
150
Camarines
6 curas and 1 sacris-
tan
1,022 7
4
694
9
6
450
Tayabas
3 curas
253 4
307
3
225
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
H7
Provinces
Curates, sacristans, and
chaplains
Cash,
P. t.
gr-
Rice,
cav. gant.
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Albay
10 curas
1,173
2,346
IO
750
Zebu
1 cura and 1 sacristan
275 5
9
I
75
Idem
3 curas
766 4
2
797 19
3
225
Ogton
2 curas and 1 sacris-
tan
458 1
364 19
2
150
Panay
3 curas
5*7 7
2
1,035 19
3
225
I. de Ne-
gros
4 curas
723 2
4
1,446 14
4
300
Leyte
1 cura
79
138
1
75
In 1 6 prov-
49 curas, 13 sacris-
9»338 3
4
9,764 21
49
3,675
inces
tans, and 1 chap-
lain
P. t.
gr.
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Religious of St. Dominic
Provinces
Ministries
Cash,
p. t. gr.
Rice,
cav. gant.
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Tondo
Pampanga
Cagayan
Pangasinan
2 ministries
5
20 "
15
39I O 9
220 6 4
1,517 0 9
2,534 * 7
782 4
441 14
3,o34 4
5,068 8
4
9
33
26
I50
375
1,500
1,125
In 4 provinces,
42 ministries
4,663 1 5
p. t. gr.
9,326 6
cav. gant.
72
arrobas
3»x5o
gantas
Discalced religious of St. Francis
Provinces
Ministries
Cash,
p. t. gr.
Rice,
cav. gant.
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Tondo
Bulacan
Bay
Cagayan
Camarines
Tayabas
4 ministries
4 "
24 "
1 "
18
11 "
416 7 2
6l I O 9
1,492 I 7
44 3 2
1,883 0 9
1,312 6 4
833 19
1,222 4
2,984 9
88 19
3,766 4
9
5
28
1
20
17
300
300
1,800
75
i,35o
825
In 6 provinces,
62 ministries
5,76o 3 9
P- t. gr.
8,895 7
cav. gant.
80
arrobas
4,650
gantas
148
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
Calced Augustinian religious
Provinces
Ministries
Cash,
Rice,
Wine,
Oil,
p. t. gr.
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Ton do
6
ministries
1,224 4 9
2,449 4
15
450
Bulacan
9
<<
1,077 4
2,155
13
675
Pampanga
18
C(
1,416 4 9
2,833 4
30
1,35°
Pangasinan
3
((
3684
737
4
225
Ylocos
l9
<<
2,843
5,686
25
1,425
Balayan
6
re
933 1 7
1,866 9
10
450
Zebu
3
it
441 7 3
516 4
4
225
Ogton
H
t€
2, 164 7 2
4,329 19
21
1,050
Panay
10
(I
1,098 2 4
2,196 14
I I
750
Bay
i
€{
122 0 9
244 4
I
75
In i o provinces,
89
ministries
11,690 4 7
23,013 10
*34
6,675
P- t. gr.
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Society of Jesus
Provinces
Ministries and
chaplains
Cast
P-
t. gr.
Rice,
cav.
jant.
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
Ton do
Cavite
Mariveles
9 ministries
4 "
1 "
710
546
62
2 4
4 9
4 8
1,420
1,093
I25
H
4
4
16
6
2
675
300
75
Mindoro
Zebu
3
15 «
212
I,66l
4
7 2
425
3,323
»9
3
17
225
1,125
Ogton
Idem
1 ««
1 chaplain
for the fort
112
l8o
4
225
1
75
I. de Negros
Leyte
Samboanga
\Idem\
3 ministries
32
3 "
and for their
transportation
238
3,433
300
75
0 9
476
6,866
600
4
3
32
3
225
2,400
225
In 9 provinces
7 1 ministries
and 1 chaplain
7,532
p-
3 8
t. gr.
14,554 21
cav. gant.
83
arrobas
5,325
gantas
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
149
Discalced religious of St.
Augustine
Provinces
Ministries
Cash,
Rice,
Wine,
Oil,
p. t. gr.
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Tondo
i ministry
17
34
3
75
Mariveles
2 ««
226
3
150
Mindoro
4 "
3J5 6 4
631 14
7
300
Pangasinan
4 "
265 5 7
53* 9
10
300
Albay
2 "
156 3 2
312 19
4
150
Zebu
2 "
171 6 4
343 H
6
150
Pan ay
2 "
210
420
4
150
Caraga
7 «
606 7 2
1,213 l9
11
525
Idem
1 chaplain for
the fort
180
Calamianes
4 ministries
398 4 9
797 4
7
300
Idem
1 chaplain for
the fort
180
In 9 provinces
28 ministries
2,728 1 4
4,284 7
55
2,100
and 2 chaplains
p. t. gr.
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
In order better to understand these tables, no esti-
mate is made, in the class of secular ecclesiastics, of
the additional sums which many of them enjoy from
the treasury besides the amounts from the tributes to
which they minister, for the amount required for
their subsistence, in accordance with the royal de-
crees and acts of the treasury council obtained at the
beginning of their establishment; and this surplus
causes the disparity which cannot fail to be noticed.
In the province of Tayabas, which is administered
by the religious of St. Francis, there is no charge for
rice, since this is always included in the amount of
cash [supplied from the treasury] - as was agreed
between this order, the governor, and the royal offi-
cials, on account of the scarcity [of supplies] in that
province, and the difficulties which are found in the
remittance, transportation, and delivery of that com-
modity.
iSo
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
It is also set forth that, after the budget for the
provinces was drawn up, and the number of tributes
in them realized, it was resolved in a conference of
the royal treasury officials to abolish the register of
strolling Indians, reducing them to a poll-list like
the rest of the tribute-payers. According to these
latest enumerations the amounts of the stipends are
settled, and not in accordance with those which were
considered in the aforesaid budget -from which
fact arises the difference which is found in this one.
Summary of the amounts of stipends and
contributions
Ministries
Cash,
p. t. gr.
Rice,
cav. gant.
Wine,
arrobas
Oil,
gantas
49 curates, 1 3 sacristans, and
1 chaplain— [seculars]
42 ministers, religious of St.
Dominic
62 ministers, discalced reli-
gious of St. Francis
89 ministers, calced Augus-
tinian religious
71 ministers and 1 chaplain
of the Society of Jesus
28 ministers and 2 chaplains
of the discalced Augustin-
ians
9.338 3 4
4,663 I 5
5>76o 3 9
11,690 4 7
7.532 3 8
2,728 1 4
9,764 21
9,326 6
8,895 7
23,013 IO
14,554 21
4.284 7
49
72
80
*34
83
55
3.675
3.»5°
4,650
6,675^
5.325
2,100
Totals
41,713 2 1
p. t. gr.
69,839
cav.
473
arrobas
25.575
gantas
1728-1759]
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
J5J
General summary of the amounts, in stipends, con-
tributions, and grants, with which the ecclesias-
tical estate in these islands is aided on his Majesty's
account.
Cash,
Rice,
Wine,
Oil,
P- *. gr-
cav. gant.
arrobas
gantas
Four cathedral churches
26,490
Colleges, hospitals, and other
houses without administration
15,326 4
4,924
158
^3*9
Grants of encomiendas, and their
net product
7,817 4 I
Encomiendas in which collec-
tions are made by the royal
treasury
Active missions, summary
9>239 J 4
10,376
3
300
Stipends of ministers in charge
of doctrinas
41,713 2 1
69,839
473
z5>575
Totals
100,586 3 6
85^39
634
28,194
p. t. gr.
cav.
arrobas
gantas
This is, in brief, what his Catholic Majesty
piously expends and distributes every year from his
royal exchequer in aiding the ecclesiastical estate
and the divine worship in these islands, not only in
money but in rice, wine, and oil - in everything con-
forming to the royal decrees and other provisions,
on which is based the certified statement furnished
by the royal officials to this government. And, in
order that the total amount from both [these kinds
of aid] may be better understood, I have thought it
best to proceed to the reduction of commodities [to
a cash basis], by which may be exhibited the actual
cash value [of all that is given for this purpose].
152
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 47
Reduction of commodities for the computation of
the whole in cash
[Class of aid]
Actual cash
Rice(24 gantas in a cavan)
Wine for masses (arrobas)
Oil for the lamps (gantas)
Commodities
furnished
85,i39cavans
634arrobas
28,194 gantas
Rates of cost
4 tomins a cavan
25 pesos an
arroba
1 tomin a ganta
Cash value,
p. t.gr.
100,586 3 6
42,5694
15,850
3.5H2
Sum total 162,530 p., 1 t., 6 gr.
Consequently, the payments in kind being reduced
to money at the prices which are indicated, accord-
ing to the estimate made every five years - in which
are considered the transportation expenses, items of
waste, and cost of administration - the whole amounts
to 162,530 pesos, 1 tomin, and 6 granos, according to
the computation. This amount is annually requisi-
tioned by the royal officials from the amount of the
tributes and other branches of income indifferently,
in such a manner that when the Indians fail - either
in order to keep a reserve, or for some other special
reason of scarcity -to pay the portion of rice which
is required from them, it is necessary to make ex-
traordinary purchases on his Majesty's account, at
the prices which at the time are current, in order
to furnish the ecclesiastical estate with a suitable
amount for their stipend. It is also necessary that
the aid for each individual ecclesiastic be delivered,
at the cost of the royal treasury, in his respective
place of ministry, from which follows an increased
and extraordinary expense in the transportation of
these succors.
As regards the wine for masses, the royal officials
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 153
of this treasury usually ask those of Mexico to send
in each ship 500 arrobas of wine, which, it is esti-
mated, ought to be distributed among the communi-
ties and ministries of the religious - considering that
the secular ecclesiastics are accustomed to receive
this in money, at the same rate of twenty-five pesos
[an arroba]. The officials of Mexico punctually
fill this order, deducting from the situado the cost
of purchasing the wine and transporting it to the
port of Acapulco-so that, when delivered in this
city, and allowance being made for the waste, the
total cost never falls below twenty- five pesos [an
arroba]. As the aforesaid waste is usually consider-
able, on account of the long navigation and carrying
the wine in [mule-] loads by land - and from the
amount thus sent is separated, in the first place, the
wine necessary for the use of the royal chapel and of
the chaplains of the royal Audiencia, [and for the
celebration of mass in] the forts of Santiago and San
Phelipe, at the timber-cutting [by the Indians], and
in the ships of his Majesty- there is seldom enough
wine to furnish the entire arroba which belongs to
each priest. For this reason the net amount of what
remains is divided pro rata among the aforesaid
communities and ministries of religious, without
keeping back the third part (as formerly was the
custom) for emergency cases, on account of the
urgent representations made on this point by the
general procurators of the aforesaid communities -
giving as their reason that this reserve would be
safer and better guarded in their hands than in the
royal storehouses, and there would be reason to fear
that the wine would be consumed or adulterated.
The matter having been considered at a session of
154 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
the royal treasury officials on December 5, 1738, it
was decided that the royal officials should proceed
to deliver the wine, obliging the parties concerned
to provide for themselves whatever lack might occur
in the future, to which all agreed ; in virtue of this,
from that time was delivered to them all that was
their share in the pro rata division of the net amount
of all the wine that was on hand for this purpose.
As for the cocoanut-oil for the lamps, there is sel-
dom any change in the amount paid to the churches;
for it is the current practice, in all the provinces
where that tree grows, that the Indians contribute it
on account of the tribute, at the fixed price of one
real for a ganta, and at the same price when it must
be purchased, which the natives call "bandala." If
there is any excess of cost, it is in the fact that oil is
bought on urgent occasions in this city for the
careening of the vessels and other special needs of
the royal service - for which as regards the con-
tributions [to the churches], only so much is levied
[from the Indians] as accords with the amount
agreed on [with them].
Besides this enormous amount of stipends and
offerings with which his Majesty aids the ecclesias-
tical estate, the ministers in charge of the villages of
Indian converts have generally introduced the an-
nual collection, from the parishioners under their
administration, of three reals from each whole trib-
ute (that is, a man and wife) and from an unmarried
man half that amount, as an offering, for the feasts
of the titular saint of the village, the monument, and
All Saints' day; this also realizes a considerable sum
for them, which may be more clearly understood by
the statement which is presented in the following
table :
1728-1759
SURVEY OF FILIPINAS
i$S
Summary of what the ministers who are in charge
of the Indian villages receive from their parish-
ioners, as an offering, for the three feast days of
each village.
[Class]
Ministers
Villages
Tributes
Offerings,
p. t. gr.
Secular ecclesiastics
Religious of St. Dominic
Religious of St. Francis
Calced religious of St.
Augustine
Society of Jesus
Discalced Augustinians
49
42
62
89
7i
28
86
42
66
93
90
38
32,254
23,3l6^
25,520
56,923
35,524^
11,276%
12,095 2
8,743 5 6
9»57o
21,346 1
13,321 5 6
4,228 5 6
Totals
34i
4*5
184,814%
69,305 3 6
Consequently the 341 ministers in charge who
administer the 415 villages and 53 visitas, and in
them the number of 184,814^ tributes of native
Indians, mestizos, and Christian Sangleys - accord-
ing to the latest estimate, in which is included the
enumeration of strolling Indians - receive for the
aforesaid offering each year 69,305 pesos, 3 tomins,
and 6 granos, according to those figures. It cannot
be learned that for the exaction of this offering they
have further permission or privilege than the custom
itself, introduced by those very ecclesiastics and reli-
gious in their respective parishes; nor in this ac-
countancy is there any other evidence for it than the
extra-judicial information acquired by the alcaldes,
the natives, and the business men of the provinces,
who have seen this practice in use in the man-
ner which is here stated. The amount of this offer-
ing added to the 162,530 pesos, 1 tomin, and 6 granos
which those ministers receive in stipends and con-
tributions on his Majesty's account, makes the sum
I56 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
of 231,835 pesos, and 5 tomins, which is the amount
of the fixed revenue which they receive. Besides
this, they have the proceeds of the occasional fees
from marriages, burials, baptisms, and other paro-
chial dues, which are collected in all the parishes
that are called curacies and ministries; and no ac-
count is rendered of the value of these, because it
has not been possible to calculate it everywhere for
the total computation of the usufruct, but it has
always been considered as a large amount. Not-
withstanding all this, the religious orders have their
incomes lessened by transporting a large number of
religious from the kingdoms of Castilla to these
islands, at least every six years. In this way they
consume a great part of their means, since the
passage-money which his Majesty grants them for
their transportation is a very limited sum. More
than all, we must not fail to remark that the fine
appearance of the churches, and the care taken for
divine worship and education, and the zeal for souls,
which are so conspicuous in the ministries of the
religious, cause more admiration than can be ex-
pressed, in places so remote as these and in a Chris-
tian church so recently formed. The point most
worthy of consideration is the subordination and rev-
erence which these natives maintain toward their
religious teachers, permitting the latter to flog them,
impose penances on them, and rebuke them, when
they incur blame in any omissions or faults, without
their being offended at the minister. It may there-
fore truthfully be affirmed that it is these ministers
who preserve in obedience, vassalage, and subjection
all the neophytes, gathered into settlements - more
being due to the authority and despotic manner in
which the fathers rule them than to the political
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 157
scheme of the alcaldes who govern them. This
arises, as the Indians themselves admit, from a
natural fear which they conceive for the father's
superiority, through a hidden influence which con-
strains them to feel thus, without knowing how, but
which we understand - supernatural effects of the
lofty and supreme Providence. This result is
greatly aided by the care which the fathers take in
instructing, encouraging, and stimulating them in
labor and cultivation, and the management of their
domestic affairs, in which they are thereby benefited.
Would that they might devote themselves at once to
suppressing the variety of languages which the
natives use (which serve only to keep alive the root
of their abuses and idolatries), as is done by the
crown of Portugal in all its conquests - gradually
bringing them to the use of the Castilian language,
and endeavoring to secure instruction therein in all
the schools, as is ordained by law xviii, book vi, tit. i
of the Recopilacion of these kingdoms, in order that
its purpose, so holy and just, may be attained. But
I have not been able to find a convincing reason for
their not putting this law into execution, although
I have made efforts to ascertain if there were any.
It may therefore be inferred that some insuperable
and hidden difficulty must have been encountered on
the part of the religious who are ministers in the
doctrinas, which has hindered the useful and desir-
able progress of this Christian maxim of policy.
Index of the plans, relations, and descriptions which
are contained in this book
Reason for this work; with letter by Don Joseph
Patino,20 stating it. Folio 1.
20 He was royal secretary in the Council of the Indias. In this
158 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Concise description of the city of Manila. Fol. 3.
Description of the castle of Santiago. Fol. 9.
Plan and topographical chart of the capital, Ma-
nila, and of the castle of Santiago. Fol. 11.
Description of Cavite, with all the industries
which are contained therein. Fol. 13.
Plan of Cavite, and of the castle and Ribera.
Fol. 23.
Description of Playahonda, with its plan. Fol.
25.
Description of Fort San Francisco at Cagayan,
with its plan annexed. Fol. 29.
Description of Fort Santiago at Ytugud, with its
plan. Fol. 23.
Description of the fortification San Joseph at Ca-
bicungan, with its plan. Fol. 37.
Delineation of Fort San Pablo at Tuao, with its
plan. Fol. 43.
Description of Fort San Joseph at Capinatan.
Fol. 47.
Description of Fort Santa Ysabel at Calamianes,
with its plan. Fol. 51.
Description of the fort of Cuyo. Fol. 55.
Description of the fort of Linapacan. Fol. 59.
Description of Fort San Juan Bauptista of Lutaya.
Fol. 63.
Description of the fort of Culion. Fol. 67.
Description of the fort at Capis, capital of the
province of Panay, with its plan annexed. Fol. 71.
letter (dated September 20, 1735) he states that the king desires
information about the islands, and their fortresses and fortifi-
cations, because the recent fire in the palace at Madrid had
destroyed many papers; he asks for plans of fortifications, and
reports of troops, munitions, and artillery, and that they be sent
as speedily as possible.
1728-1759] SURVEY OF FILIPINAS 1 59
Description of the fortification of Romblon. Fol.
75-
Description of Fort Nuestra Senora del Rossario
at the port of Yloylo, with its plan. Fol. 79.
Description of Fort San Pedro at the city of Zebu,
with its plan. Fol. 83.
Description of Fort San Joseph at Cagayan,21
with its plan. Fol. 87.
Description of Fort San Francisco Xavier at Yli-
gan, with its plan. Fol. 91.
Description of Fort Santiago at Dapitan, with its
plan. Fol. 95.
Description of Fort San Joseph at Tandag, capital
of the province of Caraga, with its plan annexed.
Fol. 99.
Description of Fort San Francisco at Cateel, with
its plan. Fol. 103.
Description of Fort San Juan Bauptista at Linao,
with its plan. Fol. 107.
Description of Fort Nuestra Senora del Pilar at
Samboangan. Fol. 115.
Plan of Samboangan. Fol. 115.
General resume of the fortifications, their various
constructions, situations, etc. Fol. 117.
General resume of the military supplies. Fol. 118.
General resume of the military forces, pay of the
men, etc. Fol. 119.
Description of the provinces. Fol. 120.
Province of Tongdo. Fol. 120.
Province of Bulacan. Fol. 122.
Province of Pampanga. Fol. 124.
Province of Pangasinan. Fol. 126.
21 Evidently, from the context, referring to Cagayan de Misa-
mis, in Mindanao.
1 60 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Province of Ylocos. Fol. 128.
Province of Cagayan. Fol. 130.
Province of Laguna de Bay. Fol. 133.
Province of Balayan. Fol. 136.
Province of Tayabas. Fol. 138.
Province of Camarines. Fol. 140.
Province of Albay. Fol. 142.
Province of Leyte. Fol. 145.
Province of Caraga. Fol. 148.
Province of Zebu. Fol. 150.
Jurisdiction of Island of Negros. Fol. 153.
Province of Ogton. Fol. 154.
Province of Panay. Fol. 156.
Province of Calamianes. Fol. 158.
Jurisdiction of Mindoro. Fol. 160.
Jurisdiction of Marivelez. Fol. 162.
Jurisdiction of Cavite. Fol. 163.
Government of Samboangan. Fol. 164.
General resume of what is included in the descrip-
tion of the provinces. Fol. 166.
Notice of the royal treasury of Manila. Fol. 168.
Resume of what is produced and expended from
the royal treasury of Manila. Fol. 169.
Hydrographic and chorographic chart of all the
Philipinas Islands. Fol. 172.
[A similar index is given of the second part, that
regarding the ecclesiastical estate ; but we omit this,
as all the matter in that part is presented in the fore-
going pages -save the preliminary statement of the
"new reason for this work, with the letter of Don
Joseph de la Quintana,22 which states it;" and, at the
end, "Remarks, and conclusion of the work."]
22 At the time a royal secretary ; his letter is dated at Madrid,
August 30, 1739, and asks for the report on the ecclesiastical
estate in the islands which is herewith presented.
THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD
[The following account of the work done in the
Philippines by this hospital order is summarized
from the history written by Maldonado de Puga.] 23
CHAPTERS I-IV
[Chapter i relates "the urgent reasons for the
present treatise; and the necessity for, and useful-
ness of, our hospital order in Philipinas." In the
23 The title-page of this book reads in English thus : " Religious
hospital work [conducted] by the sons of our pious father and
patriarch, the father of the poor, St. John of God, in his province
of San Raphael of the Philipinas Islands: a condensed epitome
of its foundation, progress, and present condition, in succinct and
instructive style. Dedicated to the very reverend father Fray
Alonso de Jesus y Ortega, general of the same holy hospital order,
by the reverend father Fray Antonio de Arze, vicar provincial
and visitor, and prior of the convent at Manila -in obedience to
whom it was written by Fray Juan Manuel Maldonado de Puga,
a religious and priest; preacher, master of novices, and chaplain
rector in the same convent of Manila. Year of 1742." The
dedication to the general, by Antonio de Arze, is dated at Manila,
July 14, 1740. The book is approved by Fray Pedro de Zara-
goza, of the same order, at Ocana, February 26, 1742; and permis-
sion for its issue is given by the general of the order at Granada,
September 28 following. It is approved by Father Martin Gar-
cia, S.J., "synodal examiner of this archbishopric and that of
Sevilla, and of the bishoprics of Malaga and Barzelona," at
Granada, on September 20; and the license by the ordinary is
dated at Granada, on September 26. The approval of the book
by the Inquisition is signed by Fray Pablo de Ezija, a Capuchin,
at Granada, June 12 of the same year; and finally, the permission
1 62 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
last paragraph of the chapter Maldonado says:
"These islands are in need of physicians and sur-
geons, as well as of medicines; for excepting the
capital Manila and the port of Cabite - where we
have hospitals, and where the few secular persons
who exercise the profession [of medicine] can ren-
der assistance - the rest of the provinces, and the
many dependent towns, are supported by Providence
alone, being helped by herbs and other simples about
which they have been instructed by continual use.
But, as this is so complicated a matter, whenever the
patient's constitution and the dose disagree, or when
other substances are added to make the latter more
effective, the very article which was regarded as a
remedy usually aggravates the sickness, and conse-
quently there are continual deaths among those who
make mistakes. In this capital, although there are
apothecary shops, and practitioners who write pre-
scriptions - whose charity is taken for granted, so far
as they can exercise it -the crowd of patients who
resort to them does not allow them to succor all, and
it results that there is a great number who are un-
provided [with medical aid]. Others, because their
poverty cannot bear the cost of the medicines, and
who have no one from whom to obtain food, find
their only asylum in our hospitals - where, without
any hesitation, all are received; and, making a dis-
tinction in the respect paid to them, in regard to the
rank or character of various persons who have en-
tered these houses, in so far as our abilities extend,
the institution has succeeded in giving entire satis-
of the royal Council to print it is dated at Madrid, on July 9. The
colophon reads: "Printed at Granada, by Joseph de la Puerta,
printer and seller of books : year of 1 742."
1 7 28-1 7 59] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 63
faction. Although the royal charity maintains here
a hospital and chapel at enormous cost, it is under-
stood that this is only for officers, soldiers, seamen,
and Pampangos who have positions and render
actual service; for the men retired from service are
excluded by this rule, except by special favor of the
superior government. On this account, our attention
to our duties brings us in contact with a variety of
people -priests, citizens, militiamen, retired officers,
Indians, negroes, besides foreigners who trade in
these ports. [These constitute] a great throng of
patients, and convince us that if so important a char-
ity were to fail or be neglected many dead persons
would, to our sorrow, be found in the streets and
entresuelos2* (the dwellings of the poor) ; and
others, worn out by their afflictions, would be suf-
fering the pangs of their necessities. These are
relieved, in the present circumstances; but the
permanency of the work demands that the superiors
to whom the matter belongs shall aid us with labor-
ers and encourage us with their support, obtaining
from the Catholic royal piety what they shall deem
suitable for this purpose."]
[Chapter ii recounts the royal decrees for the aid
of the hospitals at Manila, dated in the years 1590-
96; the foundation (April 16, 1594) of the Miseri-
cordia brotherhood, and their establishment of a
hospital, which after 1596 opened its doors to all
who needed its aid; and the surrender of the royal
hospital to their care (January 8, 1598), at the in-
stance of Governor Francisco Tello- their labors
24 The same as French entresol; apparently equivalent to the
English word "basement," and referring to the space left under
Filipino buildings.
1 64 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
therein making evident the difference between the
work accomplished by pure charity and that done
by persons hired to do it; they also maintained
Franciscan ministers for attending to the spiritual
needs of the sick. In the conflagration of May 1,
1603, tne royal hospital was utterly destroyed, "with
the third part of the buildings of this city, a loss
which amounted to more than a million of pesos."
Then are enumerated the losses and calamities
which rendered this loss more grievous to the col-
ony: the destructive earthquake of June 21, 1599,
followed by lesser shocks and disturbances until the
following year of 1600; the loss of two richly-laden
galleons (1599), the "Santa Margarita" and "San
Geronimo;" the attack of Oliver van Noordt (De-
cember, 1600) ; the wreck of the "Santo Thomas"
(1601), and of another galleon which was about to
be launched at Panamao; the return to port of
the galleons despatched in 1602 and 1604; and the
revolt of the Chinese in May, 1603. A royal decree
dated November 4, 1606, directed Acuna to make
every effort to rebuild the royal hospital ; meanwhile
the Misericordia were aiding the throngs of people
who, made destitute by the various disasters above
mentioned, implored their help, and they spent in
these exercises of charity eighty thousand pesos in
five years. Another royal decree (February 10,
1617) directed the Audiencia of Manila to place
the hospitals there in charge of the brethren of St.
John of God, who were going thither for that pur-
pose; but the war with the Dutch and other hind-
rances prevented them from carrying out this
enterprise.]
[Chapter iii states that about the year 161 1 two
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 65
brethren of this order, Fray Juan de Gamboa and
Fray Lucas de los Angeles, had arrived in Manila,
desirous to found a hospital; but that the authori-
ties there discouraged their plan. Some writer has
stated that these brethren returned in 1621 and
founded a hospital for convalescents at Bagumbaya;
but Maldonado regards this as uncertain, and dif-
ficult to verify, although some circumstances would
indicate the probability that they made a second
attempt to establish their order at Manila. At
various times requests were sent from Manila for
these hospitalers, and in chapter iv are related the
arrangements finally made by the superiors of the
order in Nueva Espafia to send laborers to the Phil-
ippines, which was accomplished in the spring of
1641 ; these were Fray Andres de San Joseph (a
priest) and Fray Antonio de Santiago (a lay
brother). The warrant given them and other
official documents connected with their going are
reproduced in full by Maldonado.]
CHAPTER V
[The brethren of St. John of God began their
labors at Cavite, in November of 1641. Corcuera
provided lodgings for them in the royal buildings,
and the inhabitants contributed so liberally that they
were able to open a hospital of ten beds ; but so great
was the number of applicants for its aid that in Janu-
ary following, the hospital brethren asked for and
received the surrender (January 30) to their man-
agement of the royal hospital at Cavite, with all its
property and slaves -provided that within four
years they obtain the royal confirmation of this
grant. An inventory of this hospital and its equip-
1 66 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
merit is more curious than edifying: "The house
which served as a hospital was of wood and piles,
covered with tiling that was old and in bad condi-
tion ; for dispensary [botica~\, it had a wooden frame-
work containing various gallipots, vials, and earthen
jars. In the infirmary were sixteen mattresses, ten
pillows, twenty-seven sheets, two coverlets, and
fourteen blankets; and its larder contained eighty
cabans of rice, forty gantas of oil, fifteen arrobas
of sugar, and four jars of conserves. For divine
worship it had a box for an altar, hardly fit [for
such use] ; a chalice with its paten, without any or-
nament; a bell of medium size, and two small ones.
For its service, it had some slaves, five men and
seven women. As for revenues, it had three and a
half residence lots and two lots occupied by shops,
which yielded twenty-six pesos and [word omitted?~\
granos a month ; also some woodlands, and a grazing
tract in Leyton, a place near the said port, with sev-
eral head of horses and cattle. The most important
[of its assets] were the deliveries made from the
[royal] storehouses, for these were permanent; they
had been ordered when the said hospital was in
charge of the religious of our seraphic father St.
Francis." These supplies, as appears from the rec-
ords of the treasury board of Manila, had been
furnished since January 12, 1619, at the request of
the Franciscans in charge of the Cavite hospital.
They asked, for immediate use, for " a dozen
blankets, a dozen cupping-glasses, two syringes, two
pairs of Castilian scissors, two clasp-knives, six
lancets, two scarifiers; some wool for mattresses;
two books, one entitled De Medicina, by the author
Barrios, and the other by Dioscorides; four arrobas
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 67
of Castilian wine; a barrel of raisins and almonds;
and half an arroba of rosado sugar."25 For regular
annual supplies, they asked two hundred fanegas of
cleaned rice, as hitherto they had had no amount
allotted for the hospital; six hundred fowls, since
they received only little more than two hundred a
year from those assigned them by his Majesty in
Balayan; and three hundred pesos from the royal
treasury, to be spent for meat, sugar, flour, and eggs,
drugs from China, clothing for the slaves and serv-
ants, and other needs of the hospital. All these were
granted them, and paid regularly until the hospital
was placed in charge of the Order of St. John of
God (1642) ; "from that time there was a gradual
diminution, to such an extent that, by another gen-
eral conference of the treasury officials in 1657 tne
whole was reduced, so that by way of contribution
[from the government] only two hundred pesos
should be given, in the articles which should be
required each year, and this [only] in the interval
until other provision should be made." At the time
when Maldonado wrote, all government aid had
been taken away; moreover, in 1645 the brethren
had been obliged to vacate the royal buildings, in
which they had been conducting the Cavite hospital,
and were incommodiously quartered in some poor
shops of the Sangleys; but in October of that year
the authorities granted them the use of an empty
building belonging to his Majesty; it was con-
structed of nipa and bamboo, and had been occupied
by some fishermen. The Cavite hospital was rebuilt
25 Spanish, azucar rosado; described by Dominguez as "sugar
cooked to the point of caramel, to which is added a little lemon
juice, so that the sugar remains [granulated] like sponge sugar,
thus serving, with water, for a refreshing drink."
1 68 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
four times by the brethren of St. John: "the first
time, by the reverend father Fray Francisco de
Magallanes, which lasted until the year 1682; the
second, by the reverend father Fray Marcos de
Mesa, a priest of the order, which lasted until the
year 1699; the third, by the reverend father Fray
Juan de Alarcon, a priest, which lasted until the
year 1728; and lastly, the one which is being built
by the present superior, Fray Antonio de Arge.
There is no doubt that this will be established in so
good order that it will be an improvement on the
previous ones; and meanwhile a house has been
made ready, with sufficient space for lodgings. This
was given as a contribution by Captain Don Miguel
Cordero; and in it are maintained eight beds, and
the corresponding offices. The title of this hospital
always was, and still is, that of St. Joseph. All its
receipts in the year hardly reach two hundred and
sixty pesos, a support so scanty that it is not necessary
to emphasize the straitened manner in which the
religious who minister in it must support them-
selves; the one who directs it has the appointment
of prior." The sick soldiers and seamen at Cavite
are sent to the royal hospital of Manila for treat-
ment; if the money which they cost there were
handed over to the Cavite hospital it could take
better care of them than they now receive.]
CHAPTER VI
[A little more than two years after founding the
Cavite hospital, the hospitalers undertook to open a
hospital for convalescents, where these could have
the dieting, rest, and care necessary for fully regain-
ing their health after they were discharged from the
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 69
general hospitals; for lack of these, many persons
had before perished. Accordingly, they obtained
from Governor Corcuera permission (April 16,
1644) to erect or buy a house for this purpose, to be
situated on the Pasig River above Manila ; but cir-
cumstances afterward induced them to locate it at
Bagumbaya, a suburb south of the city, outside the
walls - permission being given for this by Faxardo
in the following September. Here, as in other
places, Maldonado mentions this enterprise as a re-
vival of the one supposed to have been undertaken
in 1 62 1. It contained two wards, one for men and
one for women, in which twenty persons could be
cared for. This work was continued but a short
time - partly for lack of hospitalers, who had to de-
vote their main energies to the hospital in Manila;
and partly because the Bagumbaya house had not
sufficient facilities for the entertainment of its in-
mates, who quickly grew tired of remaining there
and of the strict dieting necessary for their full
recovery, and went away - in the majority of cases,
to die.]
CHAPTER VII
[The religious of the order then devoted them-
selves to the Cavite hospital, and to the one estab-
lished by the Misericordia in Manila, which that
brotherhood placed in their charge in March, 1656;
they took possession of it on May 31 following. The
conditions of this transfer are given by Maldonado
in full (pp. 86-93). The donation is full and irre-
vocable, including all the property, servants, and
incomes of the hospital. The hospitalers are obliged
to treat poor women who are ill, both Spaniards and
17° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
mestizas; also the slaves (both men and women) of
the citizens, who in such cases are expected to make
an offering to the hospital of three pesos each - save
that for slaves belonging to the seminary of Santa
Isabel and to the Misericordia this offering shall not
be made. The latter institution shall be regarded as
the patron of the hospital, and shall aid it every year
with such contribution as is in its power, for neces-
sary expenses and the support of the sick. The
women who are inmates of Santa Isabel shall be
treated by the brethren of St. John, so far as possible
in the seminary itself ; and the medicines needed for
these patients shall be provided by the Misericordia,
to the extent of two hundred pesos a year in advance.
The officers of that confraternity may visit the hos-
pital, and shall have the right to notify the superior
of the hospitalers of any deficiency or neglect they
may find therein. Any charitable person may erect
a church or additional ward or wards in connection
with the institution, and be regarded as a patron
thereof; and such addition shall not be under the
control of the officers of the Misericordia. The
hospital, however, shall retain the name of that
brotherhood, and alms or contributions for its benefit
shall be asked in its name. All property, incomes,
rights, and credentials of the institution shall be sur-
rendered to the brethren of St. John, who shall not
be expected to give account to the Misericordia of
any contributions which they may receive; that
association shall also use all its influence with the
authorities to secure their aid and favor for the hos-
pital in all ways, and to defend it from any objections
or difficulties which may arise against it, particu-
larly from the Franciscans, who formerly had been
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 171
connected with it. In case the hospital order shall
lose all its laborers in the islands, the Misericordia
shall administer the hospital until the provincial of
St. John in Nueva Espana shall be able to send more
of his brethren to Manila; and provision is made for
the final settlement of affairs between that order and
the Misericordia, in case they decide to sever the
present relations. The latter association shall pay at
once to the order eight hundred pesos in cash, for
the necessary expenses and equipment of the breth-
ren in opening their hospital labors. All the docu-
ments regarding this affair and other important
transactions of the Order of St. John are reproduced
in full by Maldonado. On taking possession of the
hospital (May 31, 1656) the hospitalers equipped
three wards, with twelve beds in each, where men
and women might be cared for separately, and the
Indians and Morenos apart from the Spaniards. A
small church was also erected, with lodgings for the
religious of the order; these buildings were injured
in the earthquake of July 19, 1664, Dut were repaired
for use until new ones could be erected. A new and
large church was built, but this also was wrecked by
an earthquake in 1674; a new church and convent
were then built, which lasted until 1727, when they
were found to be in so bad condition from the re-
peated seismic shocks which they had undergone
that they must be reconstructed. This was accord-
ingly done, the new edifice being dedicated on May
10, 1732 (see chapters ix and x for full description
of it) . This was the building which was standing at
the time of Maldonado's writing, and it had three
wards, each containing more than twenty beds ; that
for the women is especially praised for its comfort
I72 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
and convenience. "During these last twelve years"
[Zaragoza's approbation states that the book was
written in 1739] "there have been admitted sixteen
priests, secular clergy, one religious of our father St.
Dominic, two other religious of our seraphic father
St. Francis, seventy-six students from the four col-
leges which are in this city; and from the laity, the
licentiate Don Juan Francisco de Velasco, auditor
of this royal Audiencia, and a large number of citi-
zens - not to mention eight thousand poor persons of
inferior condition and rank. This appears from the
books of registration, from which this enumeration
has been made. Attention was given to all these pa-
tients, in accordance with their respective stations;
and with the same consideration burial was given to
those who died."]
CHAPTER VIII
[Later, doubts arose as to the exercise of the right
and title of patronage which was reserved to the
Misericordia in the foregoing agreement; and cer-
tain individual members of that association, "moved
(as it is inferred) by pious although very indiscreet
zeal," stirred up these doubts and made officious in-
quiries. Although they did no harm, it was thought
best to consult the heads of the Jesuit university in
regard to the objections thus raised; and their
opinion (undated) is given by Maldonado. Those
learned professors declared in favor of the hospi-
talers, saying that any official visitation and inspec-
tion of their work could be made only by the
archbishop of the islands ; the officers of the Miseri-
cordia might visit the hospital, but could not, even
as its patrons, exercise any legal authority or com-
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 173
pulsion over the brethren of St. John, or bring
against them any legal claim. The Jesuits refer to
such a stipulation in the original document trans-
ferring the hospital (chap, vii) ; they also remind
the Misericordia of the wretched condition in which
the hospital was when that association gave it up -
for this purpose citing the inventory made at that
time of the property thus transferred. Some curious
particulars are found therein. The old hospital had
but one ward, under which was "the old chapel,
where the dead were buried." One of the items is,
"Twelve head of slaves, most of them more than
fifty years old, and some past sixty." Its equipment
of bedding, etc., comprises "four old tents of medri-
naque; seven mattresses, made of Ilocos blankets,
with their outside badly worn; ten pillows, with
their covers of medrinaque, old; two tables, with
tablecovers, with six napkins, old; twelve sheets of
Ilocos weave." Various articles for the use or
adornment of the altar in the church are listed, most
of them characterized as "old;" while an image of
St. Joseph and the Holy Child is "old and battered."
There are "nine old cots for beds;" "a large chest,
old, without any key;" "an old wooden table, on
which the food is distributed;" "two old chairs for
seats;" "four large cots, for Spanish women;" "two
old books which treat of medicine" (evidently those
asked for by the Franciscans in 1619) ; "one hun-
dred and twelve porcelain vials, empty;" "sixty-one
gallipots of Chinese porcelain, empty;" "two stone
kitchen mortars, without handles;" and some few
other articles suitable for hospital use, that are pre-
sumably in good condition. In view of these facts,
there is no ground for bringing complaints against
174 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
the brethren of St. John, especially since they were
not obliged by the document of donation to conform
to any given standard in their management of the
hospital, nor was any provision made therein for
summoning them to give account thereof to the ordi-
nary. The labors of conducting the hospital and
providing means for its support are quite arduous
enough for the order, without imposing upon it the
burden of keeping accounts of all the receipts and
expenses - a charge which it probably would not
have accepted, and which cannot be now imposed
upon it. The income of the institution from the
property surrendered with it- a legacy from the late
Captain Nicolas de Luzurriaga - does not exceed a
thousand pesos, which is a very inadequate endow-
ment for meeting all the expenses which must be in-
curred for the patients sent to the hospital by the
Misericordia, even if these number no more than
eight; and its scantiness prevents that association
from making any just claim to the exercise of au-
thority over the hospital. Indeed, the Jesuits cen-
sure the Misericordia for having done so little for
the institution since they surrendered it to the breth-
ren of St. John. Further: "Apparently the mistake
of the Board [of the Misericordia] consists in their
being surprised that the sick are not better treated or
regaled in the said hospital, when they see that the
Order of St. John of God has an encomienda granted
by his Majesty the king (whom may God preserve),
a ranch of cattle and cultivated lands, some lots oc-
cupied by shops in the Parian outside the walls of
Manila, and other considerable revenues - which, as
evidently appears, are all considered as possessions
of the said hospital of the Misericordia, of which
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 175
they are patrons - [a mistake which arises] from see-
ing that all these are possessed by the religious of
St. John of God, but not making a distinction in
regard to what belongs to that order as an order, for
the support of its brethren. Such is the ranch;
when, in the year 49, Captain Don Pedro Gomez
Caflete lay sick in the hospital for convalescents at
Bagumbaya, without the walls of this city, he made
a donation, by a clause of his last will and testament,
of the said farms to the said religious order. Suit
having been brought by Captain Geronimo Fuentes
for a sum of money which the said Captain Don
Pedro Gomez Cafiete owed, the aforesaid properties
were placed at public auction, and the said religious
order secured in the said auction, for a bid of 12,100
pesos, the said ranch and some shops in the Parian -
nineteen of them upper, and twenty lower; and
eight other shops for the peddlers, with their
lodging-rooms above. The said order also obtained
at public auction eight residence lots in the locality
of La Hermita and Santiago de Bagumbaya (which
were the ones where they started their work), and
some others which they bought. The site and local-
ity where the church and convent of the said order
are at present built were the houses which belonged
to Captain Don Alonso Parrilla; these also were
secured at auction, for the price of 3,000 pesos, by
paying in cash (as it did) 2,650 pesos, and the re-
mainder of the 3,000 was left in a mortgage that
could be paid up, the said order paying the amount
due every year to this same Board of the holy Mi-
sericordia. Another [resource is] a chaplaincy of
masses to the Holy Ghost and the Conception, which
was founded by Dona Hypolita de Zarate y Osse-
1 76 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
guerra. These incomes have nothing to do with the
hospital as a hospital; and therefore, in accordance
with this, the members of the Board cannot require
that these revenues be subjected to official investiga-
tion, any more than in the case of other contributions
and incomes which other benefactors had left to the
said hospital, even though the proceeds of these are
handled, and surrendered to the said religious, by
this same Misericordia as administrators for the
said benefactors ; for the members of the Board have
no rights as patrons over any of these, as is clearly
stated in the agreement made in the conditions of
donation." "From all this, the fathers rector and
masters of this university of the Society of Jesus con-
clude that only with the gravest scruples of con-
science, and at the risk of defaming the said religious
order by accusations of omission or negligence in
fulfilling their obligation to render assistance to the
said sick persons, can the members of the Board on
this pretext demand before the illustrious archbishop
that the said religious be visited, and account be
demanded from them of the expenses and receipts,
and of other matters pertaining to the said assistance
- not only in regard to all the incomes which the hos-
pital order, as such, possesses, noting down the con-
tributions from all the benefactors of it; but as
little even the proceeds which by the said donation
the religious received from this same brotherhood
of the holy Misericordia - since that is expressly
contrary to the agreement made with the said reli-
gious order in the instrument of donation, and would
be a very heavy and onerous new burden upon it, if
imposed now, after sixty years, on a donation which
was originally free, complete, and irrevocable."
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1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 179
This opinion is signed by Joseph Hernandez, An-
tonio Arias, Pablo Clain, Nicolas de Zarate, and
Joseph de Bobadilla.26 It brought about a cessation
of the controversy, and afterward the hospital and
its labors grew in public esteem and many favors
were bestowed on it.]
CHAPTERS IX-XII
[These chapters are devoted to a history and de-
scription of the church and convent erected in 1727,
an account of the solemn functions annually cele-
brated therein, instances of miraculous intervention
by the Virgin, etc. The church was dedicated on
May 10, 1732, with festivities and solemn ceremonies
which lasted during eight days. On the last day an
oration was delivered by the Dominican Fray Juan
de Arrechedera, who is styled by our writer "the
Tullius of Manila." The church measured one
hundred and fifty feet in length, and forty-two in
breadth; Maldonado describes it, both within and
without, with much detail, and presents a large illus-
tration of the exterior of the edifice, which is here-
with reproduced on a smaller scale. Among the no-
table donors to the adornment and furnishing are
Don Buenaventura Morales, a physician in Manila;
Don Juan Monroy, court secretary of the Audiencia;
General Antonio Gonzalez Quijano; Don Joseph
Antonio Nufio de Villavicencio, a regidor of Ma-
nila ; General Miguel de Allanegui, secretary of the
government; Doctor Joseph Correa Villareal, an
26 These signatures indicate that the opinion rendered by the
Jesuits dates back of 17 17, since in that year Clain died; it is
probably earlier than 1708, since in that year Arias and Bobadilla
went to the Palaos Islands (Murillo Velarde, Hist, de Philipinas,
fol. 377 verso).
180 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
advocate of the Audiencia; and General Joseph de
Morales.]
[In chapter xi occurs a curious digression in the
midst of the descriptions of the solemn functions sol-
emnized in the hospital church; enumeration of the
instances of miraculous aid afforded by the Virgin
to her devotees gives occasion for an account of the
system of weights used by the Chinese traders in the
islands, and the change made from these to the Cas-
tilian system. General Joseph Antonio Nuno de
Villavicencio "also relates that commission had been
given to him to abolish the use of a certain make of
steelyards [pesadoresi] customary with the Chinese
and other foreigners, with which commerce had been
carried on in this city from the earliest times ; and to
establish [a system of] weights and measures mod-
eled on the Castilian, according to the provisions of
the laws of both kingdoms. He recognized that the
serious nature of this charge demanded the most
extraordinary exertions, or else that the hindrances
should be removed which had hindered it from being
effective on occasions when, at various times, the
[same] attempt had been made. But, being also
stimulated by his own reputation, in order not to be
conquered by the difficulty without a previous inves-
tigation, and being incited to close application by his
interest in a transaction as much to the service of his
Majesty as to the general welfare of the common-
wealth, he proceeded to the consideration of the im-
portance of this business (the serious inconveniences
of which might defeat his efforts), and of the risk
incurred for his reputation if, after he had accepted
the commission, he could not fulfil it; and the more
he thought about it, the less did he unravel the tangle.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 8 1
At last, in his anxiety he found no recourse more cer-
tain of success than to offer himself to the divine
favor [as expressed,] in that sovereign object, the
holy image [of the Virgin] ; and in this confidence
he carried on the enterprise, heedless of any risk, and
succeeded in his object, to the satisfaction of the
many who before were disparaging it as chimerical,
or who regarded it as impracticable. He gained the
approbation of the royal Audiencia so thoroughly
that it conferred upon him new powers for [introduc-
ing] the same arrangement in all the provinces of its
jurisdiction in these islands, where the same injuri-
ous effect was experienced; and he executed this
commission with exactness, sending [to all places]
carefully regulated models and instructions for mak-
ing it effective." Maldonado then goes on to de-
scribe the mode of weight formerly in vogue among
the Chinese traders, as well as the Castilian system,
thus :]
Form of the Chinese balances
Let me be the first to explain the construction of
the Chinese balances which were in use; they were
called da-Chens. In shape it resembled a steel-
yard [romana] ; the yard or beam was made of a kind
of wood which they call palma brava,27 and in its
form was like a mace for playing truck \trucos~\ -
except the butt, which at the extremity was thicker.
It had a sort of frame of copper, octagonal in shape,
with its movable pointer in the middle [cow su espiga
en medio de movimiento~\, and some pendent hooks.
27 Palma brava: the common name of Livistonia rotundifolia,
of the order Palmes ; see Merrill's Dictionary of the Plant Names
of the Philippines (Manila, 1903).
1 82 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
For indicating the weights, there were certain points
marked by nails, set at proportionate distances, but
without any numbers or any other characters to show
the weight definitely. For counterweight there was
a piece of metal or of stone hanging by a cord, but
without any sign or mark by which the dachen or
balance could make known what was entrusted to
it.28 To this badly-constructed instrument the han-
dling of all kinds of merchandise had been reduced,
and the trade was carried on [by it] among Span-
iards, Chinese, Indians, and Morenos; and through
necessity they -even the superiors and prelates -em-
ployed this balance on all occasions that arose, from
the earliest times of the conquest until the year 1727,
when the measure that is here discussed was carried
into effect. This was not because the project had
not been brought forward repeatedly, and at various
times, but because the difficulties which hindered it
could not be obviated. But, to continue the subject,
so well known was the uncertainty of those dachens
that even the very Chinese, although it originated in
their own country, stipulated beforehand for every
transaction the balance by which [the goods] must
be received or delivered; for each one of them re-
garded the balance which he himself used as the bet-
ter reckoner. There were small ones, for weighing
gold and silver; and others that were larger, for
bulky goods. The weights by the smaller ones were
computed in taels, each one corresponding to twenty
adarmes of our Castilian weight. From the tael
28 Of interest in this connection is Herrmann Sokeland's
" Ancient Desemers or Steelyards," in Annual Report of Smith-
sonian Institution, 1900, pp. 551-564. It is well illustrated with
engravings of various primitive weighing instruments which are
preserved in the museums of Berlin, Germany, some of which
came from Thibet and India.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 83
there was a diminution down to granos, of which six
were worth one adarme ; but these names were never
common in our language.29 The chief weight con-
sisted of cates, each about twenty-two onzas; the
chinanta, which was equivalent to about ten cates, and
in our Castilian weight to thirteen libras and twelve
onzas ; the quintal, which was worth about eight chi-
nantas, or eighty cates, and corresponded to about one
hundred and ten libras of our weight; and the largest
was called pico, which was reckoned at ten chinantas,
or one hundred cates, and in our weight five and a
half arrobas. But as this correspondence of weight
to weight was prevented as people understood more
thoroughly the lack of accuracy in the said balances,
and the [cause for] suspicion of the way in which
they were managed by the Chinese - a people of such
cunning that in their own land fraud is a science,
in which degrees are given -the Spaniards found
themselves compelled to depend on computing the
equivalent [in Castilian weight], according to the
greater or less skill of each person [in reckoning] ;
but the ignorance of the Indians and the common
people, exposed [as they were] to the insatiable
greed, lack of piety, and unscrupulousness of the said
Sangleys, who gained great profits from this practice,
aided the subtlety of the latter.
Difficulties which arose in regard to the introduction
of new weights
This fact being established, from it follows the rea-
son of the difficulty, which is the subject (and to this
end the considerations) on which argument arises.
In order to suppress the use of the said dachens, it
29 Apparently meaning here, not the Castilian language in
general, but as spoken in the islands.
I 84 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
was necessary to have in reserve other weighing in-
struments, with which the commerce, both wholesale
and retail, could be regulated. In order to establish
the Castilian weights, there must be specimens of the
original standards which had to be followed, ac-
cording to the royal decrees, to which weights must
be conformed ; and a factory must be established for
the number of instruments which the new order of
things would require. There was an absolute lack
of everything; and therefore it was necessary either
to permit the use of the dachens, or to make a general
prohibition of commerce in the commodities for
which the said balances served. To adopt any expe-
dient less onerous was not allowed in the commission ;
that the former [/.<?., the use of the Chinese weights]
should be continued was the very thing which he
[i.e., General Villavicencio] was ordered to prevent;
to deny trade to the people would be ridiculous and
ineffectual. The custom was as old as the Spanish
occupancy of the country; the serious danger of dis-
turbances, [if he undertook] to regulate steelyards by
guess, without observing the exactness [required by]
the laws, was a new difficulty; delay [would be ir-
remediable, and the general injury irreparable! Let
the most discreet person, then, infer from these cir-
cumstances whether the undertaking was an arduous
one, whether the least [in] advertence would be con-
spicuous, and [what were] the risks to his reputation
for good judgment; and whether recourse to sov-
ereign aid would be urgent for his success. . . .
Castilian weight
The reckoning of our Castilian marco in accord-
ance with the laws which prescribe its form origi-
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD I 85
nates with grains of wheat. The weight of thirty-
six grains is computed as an adarme ; sixteen of these
make one onza, and sixteen onzas one libra ; twenty-
five libras make one arroba, and four arrobas the
greatest weight, which is a quintal. Laying aside
the declarations that wheat may not be used to sup-
plement the established weights of metal (a custom
of various ports and provinces), it appears that, with
only this information, a corresponding standard
could not be made in Manila, since it was deficient
in that species of wheat to which the laws refer; and
although there is likewise a harvest of these grains in
Philipinas, and quantities of wheat are also brought
hither from China - some [having grains] of larger
size and less weight, and others that are small and
compact -the variety in them arouses great uncer-
tainty, for a matter so delicate. Certain it is that,
whatever might be taken for the origin [of this com-
putation], it must produce a system corresponding
[to the Castilian] ; and, by being made general for
both buying and selling goods, it would furnish due
fulfilment to the form prescribed in the respective
laws. But, as that system would always be deemed
more conformable to the intention of the laws the
more [nearly] its ratios were identical [with those
of Castilla], and when the variety of weights and
measures (which, considering the laborious nature of
mercantile operations and the interests at stake in
them, is at times a very onerous burden) in the prov-
inces with which trade is carried on should be re-
duced to a common basis : as these islands possess the
trade with Nueva Espana, the importance which any
unforeseen disagreement might indicate could not be
overlooked. This consideration led to the most care-
1 86 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
ful investigation of the basis to which the matter
could be reduced; and, in order to find the system
equivalent [to that of Castilla], various standards
were adjusted to one another, from which a safe con-
clusion might be drawn. Accordingly, grains of
lentils (which give name to the marco 30 of Aragon)
were taken, and search was made for grains of wheat
whose weight would correspond, with the difference
of one-eighth. The same was done with grains of
alberjones31 (from which sort originated the marco
of Venecia) , and it was found that the weight of each
one agreed with that of four grains of separated
wheat. The same was done with chick-peas [gar-
vanzos] (from which the marco of Flandes took its
origin), and it was found that one of these weighed
the same as thirty-six grains of wheat. As a result,
through the weight of the aforesaid legumes, in the
respective ratios of the marcos of Aragon, Venecia,
and Flandez, and the corresponding weight of the
grains of wheat, to which reference is made by our
Castilian marco, sufficient basis was formed on which
to make the standards [of weight]. In fact, they
were made by this rule, weights of metal being made
which should correspond to one, two, and three
grains of wheat, and which together should weigh as
much as the weight which is called a grano of silver ;
another of one, two, and three granos of this sort, the
aggregate of which should be equivalent to the
30 The marco is a weight equivalent to the half of a libra, and
is used for weighing gold and silver. The marco of gold is
divided into fifty castellanos, and that of silver into eight onzas.
( Barcia. )
31 Albarejo (or alberjon) : a provincial term (used in La
Mancha), applied, like the Catalan candeal, to a variety of white
wheat. (Barcia.)
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 1 87
weight of one adarme; and by this [were estab-
lished] the rest of the weights corresponding [to
those of Castilla], as far as that one which would
contain one onza, from which resulted the greater
weights of libras and arrobas. Metal weights were
also made equivalent to half a grain of wheat, and
to one-fourth, one-eighth, one-sixteenth, and one-
thirty-second of a grain, which last is the same as the
eleven hundred and fifty-second part of the adarme ;
or, if this latter weight were divided into so many
and small parts, each one of them would alike agree
with the weight made for the thirty-second part of
the grain of wheat.
The standard of weight kept in the repository
This careful attention to details is better set forth
by a statement of the skill and delicacy [displayed]
in the construction of the weighing instrument
which serves as standard in this capital, and is kept
in the archives in the building of the municipal
cabildo ; it is a work which for its elegance might be
valued in any one of the principal cities of Espana
and of the Indias. It is a small one, such as is re-
quired by the weights which it carries ; it is made in
the form of a cross, of rich tombac32 and the finest
gold. In the semicircle which indicates the play of
the index needle, a pendent pearl serves as ornament.
The scales are of the same metal, gold and tombac,
and the silken threads which sustain them of silk
dyed red. The whole instrument works with so
rigid exactness that when the smallest weight - a
32 Spanish tumbaga (from Malay tambaga, copper): an alloy
of copper and zinc, or a species of brass, with an excess of zinc;
also known as "Dutch gold" and "pinchbeck."
1 88 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
thirty-second of a grain of wheat, or the eleven hun-
dred and fifty-second part of an adarme - which is
an almost imperceptible amount, is placed in either
of the said scales the index of this steelyard shows the
difference.
Remarkable agreement of weights
[That which had been] the physical probability of
conformity of this construction [with the standard
of Castilla] was rendered certain with remarkable
exactness. Commission was given by the cabildo of
this city that twenty-five steelyards should be sent
from the kingdom of Nueva Espana; and, these
having been brought hither at the time when the
aforesaid steelyards and the weights, both large and
small, were already made, [the cabildo] proceeded
to make the comparison [between these and those]
with judicial solemnity and the assistance of experts.
This transaction having been completed with the
exactness which its importance rendered urgent, the
two sets of steelyards were found to agree so closely
that it appeared that in those sent from Nueva Es-
pana the scales were balanced by the weights made
in Manila, or that these were the regular weights for
the said steelyards I . . . This measure, be it
worthy of record, began with the benefit to the com-
mon people of these islands in the suppression33 of
the da-chens, or Chinese steelyards ; for the easy and
continual fraud therein was computed by an official
33 In the Spanish text, extension ; but this is apparently a mis-
print for some other word, for which, in accordance with the
obvious meaning, we substitute "suppression." At the beginning
of Maldonado's work is printed a list of errata therein, thirty-two
in number; this is followed by the naive remark, "There are some
others, which the discreet reader can correct."
1 7 28-i 7 59] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD I 89
as being, in the limits of Manila alone, more than
thirty thousand pesos a year - an evil so deeply
rooted that few persons supposed that it could be
remedied. So far did this go that the Marques de
Torre-Campo, then governor of these islands (whose
prudent moderation was always honored), at the
time when permission was asked from him for the
publication of the proclamation by which the new
usage was established and the old one prohibited,
made very sententious remarks expressing his opin-
ion that the said effort would be useless on account
of the difficulties which, he inferred, would obstruct
its effectiveness. But experience proved that he was
mistaken; for in twenty- four hours [from that time]
it would have been difficult to find any Chinese steel-
yard, if search had been made. It appears from the
original acts - and these have been furnished to us
for this relation, which in everything punctually fol-
lows and refers to them - that before reaching this
last step, the publication of the prohibition of Chi-
nese weights, the authorities caused to be made as
large a number of properly regulated steelyards as
the shops and guilds which use them might reason-
ably be expected to need. Then the Chinese were
notified that the da-chens which they used should be
brought forward; these were retained [by the au-
thorities], and Castilian steelyards were given [in
place of them], with printed instructions for observ-
ance by those who used them ; and steelyards for the
use of the public were set in various places, with
trustworthy persons [in charge], who could instruct
persons of little understanding. And it is generally
known that, although this was a matter of so serious
tendency, and included every class of persons, not the
1 9° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
slightest disturbance arose; for all knew its import-
ance, and in order to enjoy the convenience [of the
new weights] submitted to learn the first rudiments
of knowledge [about them] ; and perplexity [on this
point] lasted but a short time, or was not evident at
all, for in matters which concern one's interests close
application makes progress, even in the dullest per-
sons.
[In chapter xii are enumerated the distinguished
persons who have been buried in the new hospital
church since its erection. Among these were five in-
fant children (1728-36) of Villavicencio, the regidor
who had so liberally aided the institution ; at two of
these funerals disputes arose over the rights of cer-
tain officials to precedence as pallbearers. Another
benefactor, General Allanegui, was buried in the
church (April, 1736) ; and three years later Gen-
eral Don Gregorio Padilla y Escalante, who lived
in the village of Binondo. A sad tragedy is hinted
at in the record, although it is mentioned chiefly in
connection with ecclesiastical quarrels over parish
dues and the disputed right of interring the poor
corpse. On January 26, 1736, a Spanish girl of
about fifteen years was brought to the hospital; she
had been found stretched on the ground near the
door of the seminary church of Santa Isabel, bruised
and senseless, and died in about an hour, without re-
covering consciousness. No one knew who she was ;
but her body was placed near the door of the hospital
church, to see if any person would recognize it.
Several identified it as that of Dona Josepha de
Leon, a pupil in the said seminary, who in a tem-
porary insanity had flung herself from the roof of
that building to the street below.]
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD I91
CHAPTER XIII
[This chapter is devoted to an account of the gov-
ernment of the province of the Order of St. John; a
list of its provincials, with their terms of office; and
a list of all the members of the order therein, at the
time of writing this history. This province had al-
ways been subject to the very reverend commissary-
general of the order resident in Nueva Espafia; and,
as its funds did not permit it to bring men from
Europe, the superior at Manila would admit novices
who wished to engage in the work of the order.
These, when sufficiently instructed, if they showed
a true vocation for that work were received into the
order, and thus its numbers were sufficiently re-
cruited to sustain its labors. The choice of a pro-
vincial for the islands was always reserved to the said
commissary at Mexico, who usually reappointed the
same man, when he had been found competent for
that office ; this appointee was regarded as the vicar
and visitor for the commissary (except in the matter
of authority to grant dismissory letters to members
of the order), and those titles were bestowed on the
prior of the Manila convent (the principal house),
regarded to all intents and purposes as provincial, but
with the modest title of "superior" \_prelado\. The
province had four houses: those at Cabite and Ma-
nila, and two others, at Bagumbaya and Zebu respec-
tively. When Maldonado wrote, the two former
alone remained. The prior at Cabite was nominally
appointed by the commissary at Mexico ; but the un-
certainties, delays, and costs caused by the distance
thither and the long and dangerous voyage rendered
it necessary to leave this choice practically in the
igz THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 4/
hands of the superior at Manila. The brethren of
the community met every three years to elect coun-
cilors and transact other business. The superior
appointed a procurator-general, manager of the
hospital, and other minor officials. Besides the
priests and brethren of the order, certain men called
donados were admitted to its ranks for the service of
the poor and for the commoner duties of the convent.
In the month of November of each year, the officers
of the Misericordia visited the hospital officially - it
being definitely understood that they had no right
to meddle with its management in any way. On
New Year's day of each year, the community assem-
bled and chose by lot a patron saint for the coming
year.]
[Following is the list of superiors (not counting
Fray Juan de Gamboa, who came in 1621, because
his attempt to establish the order proved abortive) :
(1) Father Fray Andres de San Joseph, a native of
Mexico; his patent was dated February 20, 1641
and he ruled the province until August 3, 1643.
(2) Father Fray Francisco Magallanes, a Portu-
guese; he received his credentials on March 10,
1643, but did not go to the islands that year; he took
possession on August 3, 1644, and held the office
until August 4, 1662. (3) Father Fray Francisco
Cardoso, a Portuguese; he immediately succeeded
Magallanes (by whom he was appointed, under
special authority conferred by the commissary) , and
held the office for four years. (4) Father Fray
Christoval Nieto de Salazar, a native of Mexico ; he
ruled from September 4, 1666 until August 9, 1669.
(5) Father Fray Marcos de Mesa, a native of Tes-
cuco, Mexico, held office from August 9, 1669 until
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD I 93
his death in 1682. (6) Father Fray Luis de la Cruzr
a Canari by birth, next held the office, from 1682 un-
til his death on January 25, 1683 ; he came to Manila
as alternate for the regular appointee, Fray Fructu-
oso de Texada (who died three days after he reached
the port of Cavite) ; opposition to his rule arose in
the order itself, but he was finally placed in posses-
sion of the office by the provisor of the archdiocese,
aided by military force. (7) Father Fray Phelipe
de Jesus, a native of Manila, was superior from
January 25, 1683 until September 2, 1684. (8)
Father Fray Antonio de Robles, a native of Mexico,
ruled from September 2, 1684 until 1687; he then
went to Zebu, and was ordained a secular priest
(9) Father Fray Phelipe de Jesus, as chief coun-
cilor, took the place of Fray Robles, and held office
for three years. (10) Father Fray Domingo de
Santa Maria, a Vizcayan, governed the province
from July 16, 1690 until 1692, when he also entered
the secular priesthood. (11) For the third time,,
Fray Phelipe de Jesus held the office of superior,,
this time from July 21, 1692 until July 8, 1694.
(12) Father Fray Manuel de San Roman then took
his place, ruling until August 13, 1697. (13) Father
Fray Francisco Beltran, a native of Manila; as chief
councilor, he took the place of Fray Phelipe de
Jesus, who died after having been appointed supe-
rior by the commissary; Beltran held the office only
one year. (14) Father Fray Geronimo Nadales, a
native of Habana, was sent over by the commissary,
and ruled from August 28, 1698 until his death,
January 20, 1703. (15) Father Fray Ignacio Gil
de Arevalo, a native of Mexico; as chief councilor,
he took Nadales's place, which he filled until his
1 94 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
death in 1706. (16) Father Fray Francisco Hur-
tado, a native of Mexico ; he was second in the coun-
cil, and became superior through election by the
community after the death of Fray Gil ; much oppo-
sition arose from a disaffected faction, but Hurtado
held the office (although with some subsequent lim-
itations of authority) from 1706 until August 11,
1708. (17) Father Fray Juan de Santacruz, a na-
tive of Manila, was superior during the next three
years. (18) Father Fray Francisco Hurtado se-
cured the commissary's nomination, and held the
office from August n, 171 1 to July 13, 1720; "in his
time there was a notable decline in this province."
(19) Father Fray Santiago Gutierrez, a native of
Manila, ruled from July 13, 1720 to August 12,
1724; he was then deposed and secluded by the
archdiocesan ordinary: Maldonado regrets the in-
jury thus inflicted on the order and its privileges, but
discreetly refrains from open censure of this proceed-
ing. (20) Father Fray Lucas de San Joseph, a
native of Manila; he was prior of Cabite, and took
the place of Fray Gutierrez; he entered the office on
August 19, 1724, and ruled only two months, being
requested to resign, as a result of various discords
among the brethren. (21) Father Fray Eugenio
Antonio del Nino Jesus, a native of La Puebla,
Mexico; he was chosen by the community, in place
of Fray San Joseph, and held office from October 3,
1724 until June 17, 1726. He restrained the discon-
tent and disputes which were rife in the order, and
his firmness and good management prevented what
would have been great disasters to the province.
(22} Fray Antonio de Arge, a native of Mexico City
(the superior at the time when Maldonado wrote) ;
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 195
he was sent by the commissary with additional pow-
ers, assumed his office on June 17, 1726, and com-
pleted the good work begun by his predecessor; he
restored harmony in the province, replaced the di-
lapidated buildings with new ones, and secured for
his order the respect and prestige which it had
largely lost under inefficient superiors. Maldonado
eulogizes Fray Arce's abilities, energy, and good
judgment -qualities which have advanced the order
in Manila to equality with the others there.]
[Our writer enumerates the minor officials of the
order at the time of his writing. There are three
chaplains and preachers: father Fray Marcos Bel-
tran (who made his profession in 1740), a native of
Cabite; father Fray Juan Manuel Maldonado de
Puga, a native of Quautla, Mexico, who came to the
islands in 1727; and father Fray Raphael Fernan-
dez (professed in 1732), a native of Manila. The
two councilors are father Fray Santiago Gutierrez
(professed in 1700), a native of Manila; and father
Fray Joseph Hidalgo (professed in 1732), a native
of Mexico. The hospital is in charge of father Fray
Joseph Guerrero, a native of Chalco, Mexico, who
came to the islands in 1726. The procurator-general
is father Fray Joseph Mariano (professed in 1722),
a native of Manila; and the chief sacristan is father
Fray Joachin de San Joseph (professed in 1729), a
native of Mexico. The prior of the Cabite convent
is father Fray Diego de San Raphael (professed in
1724), a native of Octumba, Mexico. The list of
brethren then in the convent is as follows:]
Conventual religious- Father Fray Eugenio An-
tonio del Nino Jesus, former prior of this convent
(where he professed on March 8, 1709), a native of
1 96 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the city of Los Angeles in Nueva Espana; it has
been ten years during which he has remained in a
continual suspension of natural motions -his head
bowed, in profound silence (not speaking, unless he
is questioned, and then only what is strictly neces-
sary) ; he is, in the opinion of many, crazy, but, in
the judgment of those who direct his conscience, he
is sane. Father Fray Jacinto de los Dolores, a native
of this city; a son of this convent, where he professed
on January 15, 1717. Father Fray Lucas de San
Joseph, a native of this city; formerly prior of this
convent, where he professed on July 25, 1717.
Father Fray Andres Gonzalez, a native of Mexico
in Nueva Espana, from which he came to this con-
vent in the year 1726. Father Fray Francisco Diaz
de Rivera, a native of Mexico in Nueva Espana,
from which he came to this country in the year 1735.
Father Fray Pedro de Norofia, a native of Queretaro
in the archbishopric of Mexico; he professed in this
convent on October 24, 1730. Father Fray Fran-
cisco Varaona y Velazques, a native of Mexico in
Nueva Espana; he professed in this convent on
February 20, 1735. Father Fray Thomas Bernardo
de Herrera, a native of Zafra in Estremadura, in the
bishopric of Badajoz, in the kingdoms of Espana;
he professed in this convent on June 13, 1736.
Father Fray Pedro Ladron de Guevara, a native of
Mexico in Nueva Espana; he professed in this con-
vent on June 13, 1736.
Junior religious- Fray Bernardino de Vilches y
Padilla, a native of the city of Sevilla in the king-
doms of Espana; he professed in this convent on
March 7, 1739. Fray Lorenzo Velasco y Castro-
verde, a native of Mexico in Nueva Espana; he pro-
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 197
fessed in this convent on May 7, 1739. Fray
Feliciano Leal del Castillo, a native of the city of
Zebu, the chief city of the bishopric of that name in
these islands; he professed in this convent on April
26, 1739.
Brothers who are novices- Brother Santiago Ma-
riano San Gines, who comes from the port of Cabite
in the Philipinas Islands; he took the habit on
December 7, 1739. Brother Juan Maldonado, a
native of this city of Manila; he took the habit on
the said day, December 7, 1739. Brother Nicolas
Mariano del Rio, a native of the village of Binondo,
outside the walls of this city; he took the habit on
the said day, December 7 of the said year, 1739.
Brother Perez de Albornoz, a native of the City of
Mexico in Nueva Espafia; he took the habit on the
said day, December 7, in the said year.
Brothers who are donados -Brother Salvador de
la Soledad, a native of Bacolor, in the province of
Pampanga; he is punctual in obedience, silence, and
humility, continual in prayer, very austere, and of
fervent charity. Brother Francisco de los Dolores,
a native of the city of Gorgota, in the kingdom of
Vengala, in the territory of India. Brother Luis
Casimiro, a native of this city. Brother Cayetano
del Castillo, a native of this city. Brother Juan
Ferrer, a native of this city. Brother Pablo Bertucio
de San Antonio, a native of the village of Biiian in
this archbishopric.
[Maldonado makes special mention of a few dis-
tinguished members of the order in Manila, who
have flourished in recent years ; regarding others, he
states that he lacks information. Father Fray Mar-
zelo del Arroyo, a native of Manila, entered the
*98 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
order at Cabite, and died at Manila, past the age of
ninety years ; he was " an excellent physician, and a
strong defender of the privileges of the regulars;"
and he filled with distinction all the offices of the
order except that of superior. Father Fray Fran-
cisco Alabes, a native of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico,
was the first who took the habit of St. John (1647)
in these islands ; he rendered excellent service in the
Cabite hospital, and assisted Father Magallanes in
founding the one at Bagumbaya. Father Fray Juan
de Alarcon had many gifts; he was a noted orator,
who was called "Golden Mouth,"34 a famous poet,
and a zealous defender of the order; for a long time
he was physician for the entire city, and administra-
tor of the convent at Cabite and of the ranch of San
Juan de Buenavista, belonging to the order; he died
at an advanced age. Father Fray Bernardo Xavier,
a native of La Puebla in Mexico; he had held the
chair of theology in the Jesuit university in Manila,
and his brethren there called him "a sun eclipsed;"
in disposition retiring, humble, austere, devout, and
charitable, he was attracted to the labors of the breth-
ren of St. John, and entered their ranks on Novem-
ber 25, 1671 ; he died on August 14, 1720. Three
religious of this order were slain by the natives:
Fray Antonio de Santiago, manager of the ranch,
slain by the savage Negritos (probably before 1650) ;
Fray Lorenzo Gomez, killed while traveling in Ilo-
cos by the savage Tinguianes of the mountains;
Fray Juan Antonio Guemez, killed with lances by
the native bandits "who infested our estate of Buena-
vista." Maldonado suggests that some member of
the order act as recorder of its annals and labors, so
34 Spanish, Pico de oro\ the same as the Greek Chrysostom.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 199
that hereafter these may be kept in remembrance,
and published for its benefit]
CHAPTER XIV
Incomes and contributions which belong to the hospi-
tal order for its maintenance and that of the reli-
gious in this province,
[Estate of Buenavista.-" By donation from Cap-
tain Don Pedro Gomez Canete, various farm-sites
and cavallerias35 of lands belonged to us in an estate
called Buenavista, Pinaot, and Bolo, in the jurisdic-
tion of Bulacan, provinces close to Manila. But as
the donor when he died left debts behind, the lands
were appraised, with preference of the legacies to
the debts of justice;36 and the said property being
placed at royal auction, with the offerings of other
benefactors, the highest bid was made on the part of
our order, in the sum of twelve thousand one hundred
pesos. Afterward other lands were added to this
35 The word caballeria has many meanings, but probably only
two are here involved; these are found in the supplement to
Dominguez's Diccionario nacional (ed. of 1878). One is, "In the
Indias it is understood as the distribution of lands or seigniorial
domains granted to the settlers or conquistadors in a country." It
is possible that the text refers to some of those military allotments,
which might have descended unbroken to Maldonado's time; but
it is much more probable that he uses the word in the sense of a
measure for land. Caballeria, in Andalusia, means also the area
of sixty fanegas (or 3.8758 hectares) of land.
36 This sentence sounds somewhat contradictory to the follow-
ing one ; but it is the literal rendering of the Spanish, se graduaron
con prelacion de los Legados a. las deudas de Justicia. This is but
one of many uncertainties in the text of Maldonado's work which
presumably arise from the blunders of native amanuenses which he
mentions at the beginning of chapter xvii; the translation is as
close as possible, but in various places has been necessarily made
more free than is usual in this series, in order to render intelligible
involved, elliptical, or even apparently erroneous phraseology.
200 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
estate, by donations and purchases which were made,
and questions arose over the boundaries; but, as we
have for our defense the just titles, the crown37 has
maintained us in the legitimate possession of the
lands, which is evident from the records and deci-
sions, which are here set down verbatim, and which
declare it." Here follow the documents which show
that Canete received a grant, April 4, 1629, °f tw0
farm-sites and three cavallerias of land in the village
of San Miguel, the former part of the grant being
opposed by the Indians of Candaba; another was
made to Gonzalo Ronquillo Ballesteros, September
26, 1 601, of "two farms for horned cattle, and four
cavallerias of land, in the district of Alatib, toward
Candaba, close to Canagoan;" and the boundaries
were settled by acts of the Audiencia, March 2 and
May 14, 171 5. "These said lands, those which were
likewise obtained by the accountant Pedro de Al-
mansa, and others which belonged to the monastery
of Santa Clara, were sold to the aforesaid Don Pedro
Gomez Canete, and are among those which were
purchased, as was related in the beginning [of this
book] ; and afterward were added to it other lots of
land, all which compose the estate of Buenavista,
which belongs to our order in these islands." In
17 1 5 the hospital brethren complained that the
Augustinians had intruded upon their lands, and
were even building a house thereon, paying no heed
to the repeated remonstrances of the superior of St.
John; but the acts above cited confirmed the order
in its possession of the lands, and ordered the Augus-
tinians to cease work on their house and give account
37 In the text, Escudo — a rather surprising and foreign use of
this word instead of corona.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 201
of their procedure. "In this estate there are arable
lands, pastures for the many cattle with which it is
stocked, fruit-trees, and woodlands where the trees
are cut for lumber. It was always maintained with
one religious, who, as administrator, had charge of
its produce; but when an opportunity to rent it oc-
curred, it was considered best, and even more profit-
able, to do so. For it we receive five hundred pesos,
and three hundred cabans of rice, annually for the
period of five years, which is the present agreement,
and it is well guaranteed."]
Irrigated lands in the district of Polo — By a do-
nation which Fray Thomas Ortiz, one of our reli-
gious, made to this convent -it belonged to the law-
ful share which he inherited from his parents -we
possess certain irrigated lands38 in the place which is
called Colon, within the limits of the village of Polo,
in the province of Bulacan. The co-heirs brought
suit in regard to these lands ; but this, when tried in
the courts, was declared in our favor. The said
lands yield forty pesos as yearly rent.
Grainfields in Bonga- By purchase made of six
quinons of land, [irrigated?] grainfields,39 in a place
which they call Bonga, within the limits of Balivag,
a village in the said province of Bulacan, [our or-
der] enjoys the usufruct of one hundred and twenty
pesos, which these lands pay as annual rent.
38 In the text, Tierras Tubiganes: tubigan is the Tagal word
for Spanish aguanoso, meaning "wet," or "irrigated."
39 In the text, simenteras tabalcanes ; but the word tabalcan
does not appear in Tagal dictionaries, and is probably a misprint
for tubigan, as a result of some error by Maldonado's native copy-
ists. Quinon in Spanish means "share" or "portion," usually of
profit in an enterprise; but here it is evidently the Hispanicized
form of the Tagal qinong, which is defined by Noceda and Sanlucar
as a land measure equivalent to 100 brazas square of area.
202 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Lots outside the walls - By the donations and con-
tributions of different benefactors, we possess eight
lots in various places, from the village of La Her-
mita to that of Bagumbaya; these pay in land-rents
eighteen pesos a year. In this land is included the
original site on which was located the hospital for
convalescents, which was founded by the first reli-
gious [of our order] who came to these islands, as is
elsewhere related.
Properties in the Parian- In the Alcayzeria, the
Parian of the Sangleys, outside the walls, were pur-
chased two properties, on which there are forty-
seven shops and upper lodgings; these, when occu-
pied, yield ninety-seven pesos a month, which
amounts through the year to one thousand one hun-
dred and sixty-four pesos.
Lots in Manila- For two houses, and two lots be-
sides, which belong to this convent within Manila,
are collected thirteen pesos a month for rent, which
amounts to one hundred and fifty-six pesos a year.
Contribution from the brothers of our order — The
present superior, father Fray Antonio de Arze, by
his great affability established the roll of lay broth-
ers devoted to our order. Those who at present
appear on it regularly number one hundred and
thirty-four and each one has a certain day for supply-
ing food to the sick; this he compensates with six
pesos, which he contributes as an offering, the amount
being thus regulated - in all, amounting to eight hun-
dred and four pesos a year.
The contribution-plate -The contribution-plate
which, with the image of our holy father,40 [is car-
ried] through the streets to ask for offerings gathers
40 That is, the founder of the order, St. John of God.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 203
during the week at least eight pesos, which amount
to two hundred and eighty-eight pesos a year.
Contribution for the feast of our holy father- For
the feast-day of our holy father two of our religious
go out a few days before, as representatives of our
community, to ask for contributions among the citi-
zens; and they collect very nearly two hundred
pesos a year.
Contribution of rice- In the month of October in
each year a religious is despatched to the province of
Ilocos, in order to push forward the collection and
remittance of the proceeds from the encomienda
which is assigned to us in that province, and at the
same time he asks for contributions among the
farmers of that region; he carries, by way of pre-
caution, some medicine, and benevolently exercises
the office of his calling; and if the harvests are good
he collects offerings of about seven hundred baskets
of rice. And so great is the esteem felt in that prov-
ince for our religious, as they have acknowledged,
that when they go away in the month of March
(which is the time of the monsoon) the people dis-
play to them their regret that they must lack the
consolation which they receive during the stay of our
religious, in the assistance given by them to the many
persons stricken by disease.
CHAPTER XV
[This chapter is devoted to enumeration of the
favors extended by the crown to the hospital order.
Maldonado states that the royal grants to the eccle-
siastical estate in the islands (in stipends and contri-
butions) amount to more than 81,000 pesos a year,
without counting over 11,000 pesos more which are
204 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
allowed to the royal chapel and the hospitals. The
brethren of St. John share in this bounty, to a liberal
extent. A royal decree of June 19, 1680, granted to
the order an encomienda of 500 tributes for twenty
years, in order to repair the injuries caused to the
hospital buildings by the earthquake of March 15,
1676, and to aid in carrying on its good work. In
accordance therewith, Governor Cruzelaegui as-
signed to the order (February 9, 1685) the follow-
ing encomiendas : "The rest of Purao and Tagurin,
and the village of Pedic in the province of Ilocos,
which consists of 115 tributes, vacant by the death of
Captain Don Nicolas de Ibar, who was enjoying it
for the second life. Also the encomienda of three-
fourths of Pilitan and its subjects in the province of
Cagayan, which consists of 287 tributes, vacant by
the death of Juan de Robles Aldaba, which he was
enjoying for the second life. The two amount to 402
tributes;" and they were adjudged to the said order,
for the repair of its buildings, etc., with the charge
of paying from the amount thus collected the amount
allowed by the crown for religious purposes and the
stipends of ministers, in the same manner as other
encomenderos must. This grant was afterward ex-
tended (by decrees of September 17, 1705, and July
2> 1735) ; but the assignment of tributes in Cagayan
was later exchanged for another in Ilocos. The net
annual proceeds of this encomienda amount to 500
baskets of rice and 250 blankets; "but if those who
make the collections dispense with the fees through
charity, and if the aforesaid goods are conveyed to
us at Manila in the same way, these favors amount
to over 100 pesos more." On November 5, 1704, the
treasury officials of Manila assigned to the brethren
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 205
of St. John an annual allowance of two arrobas of
wine and seventy-five gantas of cocoanut oil for the
use of their church, in the same manner as to the
other churches of the city, with the customary pro-
vision that royal confirmation must be obtained
within six years. This was done, but the papers were
lost in shipwreck, and the grant was therefore ex-
tended another six years. A royal decree dated
June 29, 1707 (evidently a misprint for 1717), or-
dered the treasury officials at Manila to pay the hos-
pital order annually the value of the said oil and
wine; this was received at Manila in 1718, and from
that time the brethren of St. John were paid from
the treasury fifty-nine pesos three reals a year. Gov-
ernor Zabalburu allotted to the hospital the services
of twelve men from the "reserve," a form of per-
sonal service which is thus described:]
This grant, which is called Reserva, and among
the natives is distinguished by the name of Polo,
takes substantially this form: The natives, or In-
dians of the four provinces which are next to Manila,
are under this impost (besides the tributes which
they pay to the king) , that their laboring men must
render service, at the tasks assigned to them, for the
time of one month in each year. By this measure
are furnished [the men for] the timber-cutting,
shipbuilding, and other royal works. To this end,
[the names of] all stand in a very detailed enumera-
tion, each being numbered for the alternation [in
such service] which belongs to each one, and the ap-
portionment, which is made according to the number
of laborers which each village has. From this levy
no one can escape, or excuse himself; for their
mandons, or headmen, even when they find the la-
206 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
borers hindered by other occupations compel them,
since any deficiency affects the service of the king,
to pay for other men to act as substitutes in place of
those who obtain excuses. This is all the harder be-
cause the substitutes do not content themselves with
the wages which are assigned to them in the occupa-
tion itself, but collect three pesos besides, at which
amount the bonus is settled (unless those who man-
age the business have somewhat more for their
share) ; and it is an established custom that this
bonus is shared by those whom their turn exempts.
Request is being made to the authorities that for
the churches and other unavoidable needs men be
granted for service, to the number stated, [but] with
exemption from these oppressive circumstances;
and that, as a just concession, the warrant for this be
issued, in which is stated the number [of men] and
the village from which they are assigned to this
[service, which] is distinguished by the title "re-
serve." As a fact, those who have to render this
service remain exempt from the turn and apportion-
ment [of service] of which mention has already been
made, without any obligation to furnish a substitute,
or to pay for others to serve. With this, and with the
wages which are paid to them for their labor, we
succeed in obtaining people to assist us.
By other grants, also from this government, there
have been allowed to us fifty "reserve" vagrants, in
order that our ranch may be cultivated. This is dif-
ferent [from the other], because the distinctive va-
grant is understood as not having a fixed residence,
and not being included in the enumerations of the
men liable to polo; but they burden the lists on ac-
count of tribute in double pay. These men are
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 207
governed by certain officers, who also impose upon
them various works for the royal service ; but those
who by means of these "reserves" reside on ranches
remain exempt, and therefore are occupied in the
cultivation of the grainfields. From this it results
that there are laborers for gathering the harvests,
the commonwealth is furnished with provisions,
those men gain the means for their support, and our
estates are not lost to us by lying untilled.
Allowance for the dispensary .— By this superior
government, and in an ordinance of September 27,
1709, fifty pesos were applied every year in medi-
cines for the medical treatment of the sick in our
hospitals; and, the expenses of the royal dispensary
having been permanently charged [on the treasury]
from the year 1717, Bachelor Don Miguel de la
Torre, a physician of this city, besides the known
saving of expense which he made easy for his
Majesty in this respect, made the offer to increase the
allowance for medicines to a hundred pesos, which
was not [formally] assigned, and remains verbal.
This he has fulfilled, but so liberally that without
any limitation all the medicines which have been
necessary for the treatment of the sick have been fur-
nished to us ; and our order, always mindful of this
kindness, recognizes the aforesaid Don Miguel de la
Torre as one of its special benefactors.
These are the grants and allowances which this
province at present enjoys, and, most grateful there-
for, in all the spiritual exercises we ask and implore
the exaltation of our pious king, a munificent patron,
and we make such return as is possible in our estate
of poverty. For, although in the royal hospital the
soldiers receive treatment, this provision is not ex-
208 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
tended to their children and wives, or to the mariners
of Cabite when sickness prevents their passage [from
that place to Manila] ; but all these find succor in
our infirmaries, where they are aided with the com-
forts which are permitted by the scanty donations
which we obtain. And although we know well how
little merit there is in our labors, as being the proper
function of our Institute, we nevertheless take com-
fort in this, that in the large number of those who in
these islands are maintained at the royal expense, we
cost the royal treasury least; nor do we count in this
the cost of transportation, or other extraordinary ex-
penses (of which thus far we have had no benefit
[from the crown]) ; for, as has been stated in the
proper place, this humble province has always main-
tained itself by asking for alms.
CHAPTER XVI
[Herein are enumerated the charitable founda-
tions (obras pias)ix placed at the disposal of the
Misericordia or of the brethren of St. John. The
earliest of these (although its date is not given) ap-
pears to be that of General Thomas Garcia de Car-
denas; he gave the Misericordia 12,000 pesos, of
which 6,000 should be invested in the Acapulco
trade, and the profits applied to different charities -
among them, 100 pesos being given to the hospital,
which sum is still received by that institution when-
41 Montero y Vidal says (Hist, de Filipinos, i, p. 463, note) of
the obras pias: "In 1880 they possessed a capital of 2^ millions
of pesos, belonging to the following religious bodies: Discalced
Augustinians, 127,938 pesos fuertes; idem at Cavite, 33,117;
Order of St. Francis, 500,840; Order of St. Dominic, 205,092;
the [archiepiscopal] see, 88,155; House of Misericordia, 811,154;
the city, 37,272; the privileged confraternities, 97,617." See
our vol. xxviii, p. 298, note 138.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 209
ever the Acapulco galleons make successful voyages.
Another and similar one was founded by Governor
Manuel de Leon, with 50,000 pesos of principal;
from the returns of this, 400 pesos were to be applied
"for the care and comfort of the sick in our hos-
pitals." Master-of-camp Thomas de Endaya in
1703 gave 8,000 pesos to the Misericordia, one-half
to be invested in the Acapulco trade for the benefit
of various charities; among these, the hospital was
to receive 100 pesos for purchasing rice for the sick.
Abbot Juan Bautista Sidot (by other writers written
Sidoti) in 1705 collected among the citizens of Ma-
nila 12,000 pesos, which he invested in trade -one-
third each in Nueva Espana, China, and the coast of
Yaba (i.e., Java)- the returns on all these being
held and added to the principal until they should be
equal to 40,000 pesos, which sum was to be invested
in the same manner, and its proceeds devoted to
various charities. Of these, the hospital was to re-
ceive 240 pesos annually, thus: 100 pesos for the
salary of a physician, 100 for the cost of the dispen-
sary, and 40 for the salary of a surgeon. The
further sum of 1,100 pesos a year afterward was
assigned to the hospital, since some of Sidoti's plans
for aiding other works proved abortive. A fund of
50,000 pesos, similarly invested in the Acapulco
trade, was given in 1706 by Fray Andres Gonzalez,
O.P., bishop of Nueva Cazeres, from which 400
pesos a year were to be given to the hospital ; he also
made provision for distributing every year certain
sums to the curas and missionary fathers in his
diocese, to be spent in aiding the sick poor in their
charge -"for the reason that, having asked permis-
sion from the royal Audiencia of Manila to found a
2 1 0 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
hospital in this city of Nueva Cazeres and this not
having been granted me, I desire that, since there is
no actual hospital, there shall be one in substance."
From this wording Maldonado argues that, in case
a hospital should be founded there, the fund left by
Gonzalez for his diocese- 1,305 pesos, presumably
for each year -might properly be claimed for the
aid of such institution; "with the said contribution,
and if the natives of the said province would agree
to give [each] a ganta of rice or of oil, or some other
little offering of that sort, a hospital could be sup-
ported which was suitable for aiding the many
necessities which those helpless people suffer."
Sargento-mayor Don Antonio Basarte, a citizen of
Manila, established another foundation for the Mi-
sericordia in 1708; he left 50,000 pesos for this, but
after the claims of his legal creditors were satisfied,
only 9,849 pesos remained; this was duly invested,
but the proceeds did not reach the amount of the
original 50,000 pesos until 1726, at which time the
returns became available for charitable uses ; among
these, 250 pesos were allotted for the meat necessary
for the support of the sick in the hospitals. Captain
Manuel Martinez Lobo left a bequest to the Miseri-
cordia;42 in 1727 this yielded the net sum of 3,300
42 An interesting account of this legacy is given by Uriarte in
his history of the Misericordia {q.v., ante). Lobo, a native of
Viana, in Portugal, died on September 8, 1709, at Agana in the
Marianas Islands, "having executed a power of attorney for dis-
posing of his estate, in which he left the board of the holy Miseri-
cordia as his executor, declaring his mother, Isabel Gonzales Lobo
- a widow, and a resident in the said town [i.e., Viana] — the
heiress of his property, in case she had survived him. If not, he
named his soul as his heir, with the declaration that although he had
in the said town married Victoria de Silva he had no children by
her, nor had she brought him a dowry at the time and when they
contracted matrimony." The Misericordia made inquiries in Spain
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 211
pesos, which was invested in the trade of Acapulco
and Yaba; from the proceeds the officers of the
Misericordia were to apply 50 pesos annually for the
poor of the hospital, at the time when they should
make their yearly visitation of that house. In 1727
to ascertain whether the mother were still alive, and the wife
brought in a claim for part of Lobo's property; it also appeared
that the deceased had left a sealed will with his uncle, Francisco
Martinez Casados, in Viana. Not until 1723 did the papers arrive
from Spain to settle the difficulties attending this will; it seems
to have been decided earlier that Victoria de Silva was entitled
to one-half of the property gained by Lobo during the period of
their marriage \bienes gananciales], but the Misericordia refused
to pay out any money until the said documents should arrive from
Spain ; also that board administered a large sum of money belong-
ing to Lobo, which was lent to General Miguel Martinez at in-
terest, and could not be repaid for several years, especially as his
estate was long in probate and greatly decreased in value. "Ac-
cordingly, even if the conveyance of the share belonging to the said
Victoria de Silva could have been made, there was no opportunity
for it." Nothing further is said about Victoria, but the inference
is that she had by 1723 died, or dropped out of sight, or was
unable to push her claims further. At all events, the Misericordia,
according to Uriarte, sold the property and distributed the proceeds
according to the terms of Lobo's will -having first consulted the
learned doctors of the Manila universities as to their justification
in doing so, who fully sustained the board's course; it followed,
then, that their procedure was lawful and Christian, and that
they were not to blame for the delays which occasioned the final
disposition of the estate of Lobo. The opinion of the Jesuit
university is reproduced in full; it is dated November 2, 1727,
and signed by the licentiate Don Francisco Fernandez Thoribio
(apparently an auditor who held the chair of civil law in the
university) and Father Pedro Murillo Velarde, and is fortified
by numerous citations from canons. They decide that, Lobo in.
his last will "having left his soul as the heir of his property, that
means only the direction that all of it may and should be spent irf
suffrages, alms, pious foundations, and other ways which can
result for the relief and welfare of his soul ; and in saying that he
'gives to the honorable steward and deputies of the Board all his
own faculty, amply and sufficiently,' he means that he leaves to
the judgment of the said Board the disposal of his goods, in such
manner as shall, according to the circumstances, appear most to
the pleasure of God, and the welfare and relief of his soul. Ac-
cordingly, in virtue of the said power and faculty the said honor-
2 1 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
General Don Joseph de Morales (then steward of
the Misericordia) gave 600 pesos to be invested in
trade, from the profits of which 100 pesos annually
were to be given for comforts for the sick poor in the
hospitals. The same officer at dying left a bequest
for charities, in which were included the brethren
of St. John ; they were to receive (presumably from
the returns made on each galleon) 100 pesos for
buying shrouds for the sick who should die in the
hospitals, 100 for clothing for the religious, and
100 for certain religious functions to be celebrated
in their church. Morales's successor as steward,
General Don Domingo Antonio de Otero Vermudes
(who was also chief alguazil43 of the Inquisition),
in 1729 founded an obra pia with 3,000 pesos; from
its returns 100 pesos were to be applied for the sup-
port of the poor sick in the hospital. Dona Maria
able steward and deputies have authority to proceed to the ex-
ecution of the will, in the manner which we propose." They
approve of the bequests made by Lobo for three chaplaincies; for
the aid of the seminary of Santa Isabel and the support of orphan
girls ; and for masses for the souls in purgatory. They recommend
that the girls of Santa Isabel set aside the masses and prayers of
a certain day for the repose of Lobo's soul, for which shall also
be said a thousand masses; and that an offering be yearly made
from this estate for the aid of the home for wayward girls, in which
a day shall also be observed with prayers for Lobo's soul. No
mention of Victoria de Silva is made in this opinion.
43 Alguazil : one of the many words of law and administration
derived by the Spaniards from the Arabs. The word was orig-
inally, according to Dozy, al-vacil, which was from al-wazir,
"vizier." Under the Arabs it was used to denote an officer of
high rank, equivalent to dux. The governors of provinces under
the Ommiade Khalifs sometimes received the title by way of extra
dignity. The Christians used the word down to the fourteenth
century as an equivalent to judge of first instance. Descending
lower, in time it came to designate an officer of the court, the
bailiff -in which sense only alguacil is now used. (H. E. Watts,
in note to his edition of Don Quixote [London, 1895], iv, p. 14.)
1 728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 2 1 3
Joachina, the unmarried daughter of Sargento-
mayor Don Juan Antonio Collantes y Peredo,
having property in her own right, left 4,000 pesos
for charitable purposes, which included the payment
of 500 pesos yearly for the convalescents from the
hospital ; this became available in 1736. Licentiate
Manuel Suarez de Olivera and Dona Maria Gomez
del Castillo (his wife?) left some real estate, on
which shops were located, at the place called Los
Arroceros (».*., "the rice-mills"), outside the city
walls ; its proceeds were to be given in equal shares
to the hospital and to the poor who were confined
in the prisons. The aforesaid shops "fell into decay,
and were rebuilt in 1714, with the stipulation that
from the rent of them should be deducted the third
part in order to repay the amount spent for that
construction;" this was accomplished in 1722, after
which the full amount was received by the benefi-
ciaries. It is estimated that this aid amounts to
over 150 pesos a year, and its value is greater or less
according to whether the shops are all occupied ;
but "we receive only what is handed over by the
deputy steward of the prisoners," to whom the col-
lection of these rents had been entrusted by the
Misericordia. Antonio de Arisiga placed 4,000
pesos at interest, for the aid of various charities ;
from the income of this he applied 50 pesos annually
for the comfort of the sick in the hospital ; but in the
course of time this foundation was impaired by vari-
ous losses, and the Misericordia divided its income
pro rata among its beneficiaries. Juan de Moxica
placed at interest 6,750 pesos, from the income of
which should be given twelve reals for three masses
every week, and the rest for the hospital and treas-
214 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
ury of the Misericordia ; this income also became
diminished, like the preceding one, and what was
collected was applied to the aforesaid masses -
although, in Maldonado's opinion, any money in
excess of Moxica's requirement ought to be applied
in equal parts to the hospital and the Misericor-
dia.]
[All the foregoing funds are administered and
controlled by the board of the Misericordia; but the
hospital has the benefit of certain others in the hands
of the Third Order of St. Francis. Don Manuel
San Juan de Santacruz established a fund in that
order, for investment in the Acapulco trade; the
income was applied to various charities, among
which the hospital was to receive 100 pesos a year.
In 171 1 a similar fund was given by Sargento-mayor
Don Diego Thomas de Gorostiaga, also in the Aca-
pulco trade ; from its income, the hospital was
assigned 100 pesos a year. In 1721, another fund
was established by Sargento-mayor Don Juan
Lopez, on similar terms, the hospital receiving from
the income 50 pesos a year. A like foundation from
Don Jacome Maria Balestra, made in 1724, brought
to the hospital 120 pesos annually. In the same
year and in like manner, another fund was given by
the licentiate Don Gabriel de Isturis, which added
to the hospital's income 150 pesos a year. In 1728,
an obra pia was established in the Third Order by
some unknown donor, under the title of San
Raphael ; from this 80 pesos were given, half to the
convent of St. John, and half to the hospital. A
year later, a similar fund was established under the
title of San Miguel, by Captain Don Miguel de
Caraza ; among its beneficiaries, the sick of the hos-
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 21 5
pital received, for their food on certain holy days,
25 pesos a year. All those named in this paragraph
were administered by the said Third Order.]
i[ Certain funds were established by benevolent
women for charitable purposes, to be at the disposal
of our writer, Maldonado. "Dona Margarita
Luysa de Avila, who was the widow of Sargento-
mayor Don Nicolas de Rivera, from the residue of
her property set aside a principal of 700 pesos for
the establishment of a charitable fund, which should
be invested by halves in the trade of Nueva Espana ;"
to this Maldonado added 1,000 pesos more, given
to him by various other benefactors, and invested
the whole thus, until its product should bring the
fund to a total of 3,362 pesos ; it was then to be
divided into three parts, and again invested, its
income being thus apportioned: "130 pesos, as the
offering for 156 masses, which are celebrated in the
church of our convent at Manila, three on each
Monday in the year -one with an offering of one
peso, and the others with one of six reals each ;
beginning after half-past six in the morning, and
not before, nor shall they be said at one time - as
suffrages for the souls in purgatory; and this sti-
pend can be applied to the fathers belonging to this
community who are priests. Thirty pesos, in order
that the reverend father who is prior or superior
of this convent may arrange for chanting a solemn
mass with vigils, and with the assistance of the com-
munity, on one of the days in the octave of the dead,
in the month of November, the suffrages being
applied in behalf of the founders. One hundred
and fifty pesos, in order that the reverend father who
may be prior or superior of this convent may dis-
2l6 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
tribute this sum, as is stated in the foundation of the
said fund, for the expenses at the feast of the gozos^
of the blessed ever-virgin Mary, our Lady; these
must be celebrated in our church as a seven days'
feast, which begins on the day of the patronage of
the blessed St. Joseph, who is honored as the father
of Jesus Christ our Lord - that is, the third Sunday
after Easter. Sixty pesos for the offering for eighty
masses to be said, with the stipend of six reals each,
which the reverend father who is or shall be the
prior or superior of this convent is to arrange for
being celebrated during the said septenary - four-
teen on the first day, and eleven on each of the other
days, and inviting for this function priests by whom
it can be completed, since this community has not a
sufficient number of priests therefor -in order to
fulfil this obligation in the manner which is pre-
scribed, and the intention of [the founders; the]
said masses must be applied as suffrages for the souls-
in purgatory, and for those of the founders.
Twenty-five pesos, to be distributed during the said
septenary among the poor, both men and women,
who may be in our infirmaries. Twelve pesos, to be
divided as alms among the women servants of the
infirmary for women in our hospital. Twenty-eight
pesos, to be divided, on the first day of the said sep-
tenary, among fourteen Spanish widows, at the rate
of two pesos each. Fourteen pesos, for the cost of
wine for masses, so much as is deemed necessary for
the celebration of those which are mentioned in this
foundation. Forty pesos, which must be kept in re-
^Gozos: "verses in praise of the Virgin or of the saints, in
which certain words are repeated at the end of every couplet"
(Velazquez).
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 217
serve every year for the repairs on our convent of
Manila, according to occasion. This foundation be-
gan to operate in the year 1738, and would be in con-
dition for distribution if it were not for the loss of a
galleon and another misfortune, which retarded the
distribution until the year 1745; and request has
been made that its administration be entrusted to the
venerable arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacra-
ment that is established in the church of San Gabriel
at Bin[on]doc, a mission village in charge of the
holy Order of St. Dominic, outside the walls of this
city."]
[Another fund in Maldonado's hands is that
which "Dona Josepha Ortega, who was the wife of
General Don Antonio Sanchez Cerdan, set aside
from the main part of her estate, the sum of 2,500
pesos as a principal, in order that a charitable fund
might be established, at the disposal of the religious
who writes this. According to the instructions com-
municated to him by the said foundress, the said
principal must be invested in the trade with Nueva
Espana, its product accruing to it until the fund
should reach the amount of 7,818 pesos 3 reals; in
that case it should be divided into three parts, each
of 2,600 pesos 1 real, with which principal the in-
vestment should be continued in the said trade with
Nueva Espana; and the income of this fund, usu-
ally amounting to 1,042 pesos, be distributed in this
manner: Ninety-two pesos for the offering for that
number of masses in the chapel of the ward [used as
an] infirmary for women in this hospital of Manila.
Twenty-five pesos for the expenses of the function
of [the Virgin's] Solitude, which is solemnized in
our church on the night of Good Friday in each
2 1 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
year. Eighty pesos for the offering for as many
masses, which are to be solemnized in our church
during the septenary of the most glorious patriarch
St. Joseph, at the feast of his gozos, which begins on
the fifteenth day of October. Twenty-five pesos for
the redemption of captives. Thirty-six pesos, to be
divided, during the said septenary, among the sick
poor, both men and women, in our hospital of Ma-
nila. Twelve pesos, to be divided, during the said
septenary, among the women servants of the sick-
ward for women in this hospital. One hundred
pesos, to be distributed, during the said septenary,
by the superior of this convent and one of the father
chaplains, among deserving poor widows and or-
phan girls, especially those who are present in our
church at the said festivity. Thirteen pesos, for the
same purpose, among the poor beggars who are pres-
ent in our church at the said festivity. Twenty-five
pesos, for a hundred bulls for the living; these will
be given as alms by the fathers who assist in the con-
fessionals in our church during the said septenary,
and who can ascertain the poor who are in need of
this favor. Twenty-five pesos, for the alms of a hun-
dred bulls for the departed, [to be given] on the day
when their memory is celebrated in our church in
the month of November, the suffrage being applied
for those who shall have died in our hospital. Sixty-
four pesos one real, for the function of masses, vigils,
and responses for the cemetery, which has been es-
tablished in our church as a suffrage for the dead, in
the month of November of each year. Twenty-five
pesos, for the holy places of Jerusalem. One hun-
dred and fifty pesos for the cost of chocolate,45 with
45 In 1686 the Dominicans in Filipinas were strictly forbidden
to drink chocolate. This ordinance was observed for several years,
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 219
which sum arrangements are made to furnish it to
the religious of this convent of Manila. One hun-
dred pesos, which are to be reserved each year for
until chocolate became so cheap and so generally used (even by
the poorest Indians and negroes) that it came to be regarded as a
necessity rather than a delicacy, and the prohibition was removed
from the friars. (Salazar, Hist. Sant. Rosario, p. 379.)
The culture of the cacao {Theobroma cacao), from the seeds
of which chocolate is prepared, was introduced from Nueva
Espana into the Philippines under the rule of Governor Diego de
Salcedo. Murillo Velarde accredits this to the Jesuit Juan Davila
(Hist, de Philipinas, fol. 395 v.) : "He cared for both the tem-
poral and spiritual good of the Indians, endeavoring that they
should possess some means of gain which would cause them to re-
main permanently in the villages, in order to remove the difficul-
ties which ensued from their wandering hither and yon - for,
going about in this manner, they were not instructed in the
Christian doctrine or in Christian morals - besides other damages
which they cause. For this purpose he interceded with the gov-
ernor, Don Diego de Salcedo, to cause to be brought from Nueva
Espana some shoots of cacao, in order to plant them in
Bisayas. The governor accordingly obtained them, while the
father was at Carigara, where a plantation was begun with good
results; and from that place it has spread to other villages and
islands of Pintados - with great benefit to those Indians, and to
the general advantage of all the islands ; for this beverage is more
necessary here than in other regions. It is especially so for the
ministers [of religion], who go about in continual voyages and
navigations, very often without having the comfort of having any
other provision or nourishment." Father Davila was born in Se-
villa in 161 5, entered the Jesuit order at the age of fifteen; and was
ordained in 1639. For a time he was minister in the college for
Irishmen in Sevilla. He came to the islands in 1643, and labored
in the Bisayan missions for many years ; he died in Ylog, Negros,
June 20, 1706. For seven years before his death he suffered from
a malignant cancer in the face. Conception says (Hist, de Phili-
pinas, ix, p. 150) : "Chocolate is a great aid to feeble stomachs;
and cacao is now produced in such abundance that it serves as the
common beverage of every class of people, although it is true that
some islands produce it of better quality and richness than do
others."
The introduction of the cacao which was made in 1670 (see
vol. xx, p. 198) is reconciled with that by Davila thus, by Blanco
(Flora, ed. 1845, p. 420) : "It is very probable that with the
remittance of cacao plants which came from America at his order,
some others were brought over by private persons; and thus, at
the same time when the cacao was spreading through Carigara
220 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the material fabrica of our convent and hospital of
Manila, as occasion may require. One hundred
pesos for the expenses of the arch-confraternity of
the Blessed Sacrament at Binondo, which has been
asked to take charge of the administration of this
fund. And 134 pesos one real, in order that this sum
may be separately invested, and with its accrued
products form another foundation, until it shall con-
tain 1,717 pesos one real as principal; and then,
divided into three parts, it may be ventured in the
galleons of the Nueva Espana route, and with its re-
turns the following assignments be made : 300 pesos
for two dowries, of 150 pesos each, to fatherless girls,
the daughters of Spaniards, of virtuous lives -which
dowries are to be allotted on one of the days of the
septenary, in the manner which will be explained.
Forty pesos for the Christmas masses \_missas de
Aguinaldo\ which are celebrated in our church of
this convent of Manila. Eleven pesos, for the ex-
penses of the entertainment which must be given to
those who meet in the committee which must be
called together for the choice of the orphans to
whom are to be allotted the dowries aforesaid, dur-
ing the septenary of St. Joseph, the arrangements for
which in detail are punctually set down here. In
order that embarrassments arising from personal
considerations which intervene may be avoided,
(where Father Davila was laboring) and through other regions,
it would also be cultivated by Tagals. In the year 1674, when
Father Ignacio de Mercado was parish priest of Lipa, he says that
he distributed seeds of this tree to many persons." The allusion
here to Tagals refers to San Agustin's statement that the plant
of cacao brought over by Pedro Brabo in 1670 was stolen from him
by an Indian of Lipa, named Juan del Aguila, who hid and culti-
vated it ; and thence it spread throughout the islands.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 221
heed must be taken in the award of these dowries
that the names be presented of those who are needy;
and, this having been ascertained by a special confer-
ence which the father who is or shall be the superior
of this convent shall have with the father priests -
and if there are not two, he shall substitute the chief
councilor -it shall be declared by the majority of
votes who ought by right to be admitted from the
persons who make claims; and, this settled, the
choice shall be made among those who shall be thus
accepted, by drawing lots, and the two dowries shall
be awarded to the girls who shall draw the fortunate
lots. The method of the said drawing shall be, that
the names of all those who are accepted shall
be written, each on a slip of paper; and an equal
number of other slips, blank, shall be made, and on
two of these shall be written the words, 'May I be
endowed by the glorious St. Joseph.' Then in one
urn, or other suitable receptacle, shall be placed the
slips, folded, on which are written the names of the
candidates ; and in another urn or receptacle like the
other shall be placed the blank slips -which, as
already stated, shall be equal in number to those con-
taining the names, and shall include those on which
was written the fortunate lot, as has been explained -
and both urns shall be shaken. [This shall be done]
in the afternoon of the first day of the septenary; in
the body of the church shall be placed a table with
a neat cover, and some chairs, where the superior [of
the Order of St. John] shall sit as president, accom-
panied by the priestly fathers who may belong to it;
in case there should be no more than one [of these],
the chief councilor shall assist him. With the aid of
the father councilor, a slip shall be drawn from [the
2 22 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
urn containing] the names, and read, and then an-
other shall be drawn from those that are blank, the
writing on the slips being read aloud, and recorded
on a paper which the said secretary shall keep by
him; after this manner the other slips shall be suc-
cessively drawn, until from the names those are
chosen which the lot shall indicate; and, as it fol-
lows that there will be present in the church at this
function the parties who are concerned, or some one
who can act in their behalf, such person shall be
summoned, and the order for payment handed to
her, so that she may obtain her donation of 150 pesos
for dowry. And for the orderly management of this
business there shall be made a book of common
paper, in which shall be written the [names and pro-
ceedings of the] special committee which shall be
called together to investigate the claims; and they
shall endeavor, before the choice is made, to gain
accurate information, in order that the appointment
may be confirmed in accordance with the intention
of the said foundation. At the said committee-
meeting the [claims of the] parties shall be pre-
sented, and especially of those admitted to the
drawing, without any opinion being expressed re-
garding those who shall not be admitted, or any
previous information regarding the decision being
given to the parties concerned. Those admitted to
the drawing shall be notified to come together on the
day prescribed, and on the same day these regula-
tions shall be read, when the superior shall have
reported that he has carried out all their provisions,
as appears from the book of the committee ; and the
other arrangements that are made for the fulfilment
of this charge shall be put into practice in each sue-
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 223
cessive year, the full record thereof being afterward
made in the book, with full evidence that to those
who were chosen by lot the donation that was
assigned them has been paid." Maldonado expects
that the income of this foundation as a whole will
be available within six years, if no disaster be en-
countered; but the provision for dowries will have
to wait twelve years. He states that two things must
be considered, in estimating the value of the funds
enumerated in this chapter: first, that when they
were founded the profits on the Acapulco trade were
reckoned at fifty per cent, but at the time when he
writes have diminished at the rate of forty per cent;
accordingly, the incomes of the funds have been dis-
tributed pro rata to the various beneficiaries. Sec-
ond, as these incomes depend on the perils of the sea,
they have encountered many losses from shipwrecks ;
or the failure of the vessel to complete the voyage,
or even to obtain a cargo at Manila; or the delay in
receiving the returns from Acapulco, caused by an
unsuccessful fair there, or by other embarrassments.]
[THE OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE ISLANDS]
[This matter is found at the end of chapter ii of
Maldonado's book (pp. 25-29), but is transferred to
this place as being more appropriate in orderly se-
quence; he describes the condition of those institu-
tions at the time of writing his book.]
Present condition of the royal hospital
of Manila
The new royal hospital being reestablished, and
all the expenses necessary for its maintenance being
224 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
provided for in the royal treasury, for its business
management and the assistance of the sick there were
allotted a steward, a physician, a surgeon, nurses,
and the other servants who were deemed necessary;
and for its spiritual administration the discalced
religious of the holy order of our holy father St.
Francis, in the province of San Gregorio of these
islands - which arrangement was approved by a
royal decree, dated at Madrid, May 20, 1624. It
has continued in this manner up to the present cen-
tury, when, on account of the lack of religious for
the Indian villages dependent on the Franciscans,
and other just reasons, they were released from the
ministry of the said royal hospital, and the govern-
ment appointed secular priests as chaplains, with a
suitable income. The cost of maintaining the hos-
pital in its present condition is reckoned at 6,841
pesos, thus: The chaplain, steward, and physician,
at 300 pesos each; the surgeon, 240 ;46 the chief sac-
ristan, three nurses, one assistant surgeon, the keeper
of the wardrobe, the cook, and the doorkeeper, each
96 pesos; with this the ordinary expense, 1,368
pesos. [It also requires] 960 cabans of rice, 384
gantas of cocoanut-oil, and 8,400 fowls; also 2,000
pesos, at which amount the provision for medicines
is permanently fixed, and 215 pesos besides, which
sum is allotted for the cost of wine for mass, wax,
and other expenses which are incurred for the titular
feast day, which is All Saints' day. Interments are
made in the royal chapel of this garrison, which also
has for the year's expenses 3,220 pesos more, with-
46 There is some uncertainty in the Spanish text, which reads,
Cirujano dozientos; y quarenta el Sacristan Mayor. Apparently
there is some typographical error in the punctuation; but there is
no means of verifying the fact involved.
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 225
out counting the extraordinary expenses which are
necessary during that time in the hospital, for beds,
tents, and other needs, and in the royal chapel for
ornaments and the other requirements of the divine
worship. In the said royal hospital, without a
special order from the superior government no
other persons are received, whatever their rank may
be, besides the officers and soldiers who are in actual
service; and, although some mariners resort to this
institution - and these are few, on account of the dis-
tance of their residence, which is in Cabite-it has
not, either, a ward for women. The steward, the
chaplain, and the chief sacristan (who usually is a
priest) have their residence in the said hospital, and
are continually on duty. The physician and the sur-
geons are present both afternoon and morning, to
visit the sick and give prescriptions for what seems
necessary. The nurses and the other servants lack
the intelligence which is required [in such work],
for those who are occupied in it are poor persons,
who have no other situations; and, as the employ-
ment is arduous, they do not remain long in it. Sev-
eral high officials, in discussing this matter, have
showed their preference that this responsibility
should devolve upon our religious. It is certain that
the object of that same institution calls for different
service, and might also excuse some [further] ex-
pense to his Majesty; but as this depends upon the
royal command, it has not proceeded beyond mere
talk.
The hospital of our religious order -of which
mention will be made further on, as not limited to a
special class - is a general one, for men and women
of all classes ; and in this same holy exercise of their
226 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
ministry is secured the relief and general consolation
of the needy who resort to this charity.
Hospital of San Lazaro
Without the walls of Manila is another hospital,
with the name of San Lazaro, in which are gathered
all those who are stricken by the contagious disease
of the same name; it is administered and cared for
by the religious of our holy father St. Francis, and
his Majesty has assigned to it, by virtue of a royal
decree of January 22, 1672, a contribution of 1,187
pesos 4 reals every year -500 pesos in cash, paid
from the royal treasury; the rest is the estimated
value of 1,500 cabans of rice, 1,500 fowls, 200 light
Ilocos blankets, and one arroba of Castilian wine for
the holy sacrifice of mass.
Hospital of San Gabriel for the Sang leys
There is also another hospital outside the walls;
it is under the protection of St. Gabriel, and in the
charge and administration of the religious in the
venerable Order of Preachers of the province of the
Santissimo Rosario of these islands; it is designed
solely for medical treatment for the Chinese (or
Sangleys) who reside in this country. For its main-
tenance at the beginning, there was assigned to it by
his Majesty the ferry across the great river which
flows between the said hospital and this city; but this
allowance ceased at the building of the great bridge
which afterward was constructed, and by royal de-
cree of November 26, 1630, the said allowance was
commuted to the sum of 2,000 pesos each year, which
is paid from the communal chest47 which the San-
gleys themselves maintain.
47 The money in the communal fund of the Chinese in the
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 227
Hospital of Los Banos
In the village of Los Banos, in the jurisdiction of
the province of La Laguna, which is distant five
leguas from Manila, was founded another hospital
at the account of his Majesty; it was for the con-
valescent soldiers, on account of the specific proper-
ties of the waters of that district, particularly for
venereal diseases [Galicos], But the institution has
been steadily declining with the course of time, and
at present there remains only one religious from the
holy order of our holy father St. Francis, who is
assisted from the royal exchequer with 120 pesos a
year.
[Royal~\ allowances for infirmaries
In virtue of a royal decree of September 4, 1667,
every year are issued [treasury] warrants for 300
baskets [sextos] apparently misprint for cestos~\ of
rice and 200 fowls for the infirmary which the holy
Order of St. Dominic maintains in the convent at
the village of Lalo, the chief town of the province of
Cagayan. By another royal decree, dated January
18, 1706, there are also issued to the holy order of
our holy father St. Francis 100 pesos for medicines,
and the value of 129 pesos in various commodities,
and 800 fowls, for the infirmaries which it maintains
in this city, [in] Pagsanhan, the chief town of the
province of La Laguna, and [in] Naga, the chief
town of the province of Camarines. It is under-
stood, however, that this aid is only for the treatment
of the sick religious belonging to the said holy com-
munities.
Parian was called Lapuat, and in 17 18 amounted to more than
20,000 pesos (Concepcion, Hist, de Philipinas, ix, p. 234).
2 28 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Hospital of Zamboanga
In the fortified town of Samboanga is maintained
a dwelling for the sick soldiers, who are assisted by
a practitioner with the title of surgeon; for this oc-
cupation he is paid four pesos four reals monthly,
and for the treatment of the sick a chest of medicines
is sent from Manila every year. The lack of skill
on the part of this practitioner or surgeon, and,
moreover, the fact that less provision is made for the
entire amount of assistance [there given] than the
hospital order requires, enable one to see what the
men in garrison there will suffer. But it is inferred
that those are in worse condition who serve in the
garrisons of the fortifications of Nuestra Seftora del
Rosario in Iloylo, San Pedro in Zebu, Santa Isabel
of Paragua in Calamianes, San Francisco in Ca-
gayan, and San Joseph of Tanda in Caraga-not to
mention many other posts that are dependent on
these principal fortresses - where there is no attend-
ance of surgeons, and no medicines are sent thither.
Our community, knowing this, shares in their afflic-
tion, by not being able to aid them for lack of the
permissions from superiors and the adequate assist-
ance which were indispensable for the proper care
of the soldiers.
[The book ends with another chapter, headed
"Digression xvii," which contains an apology for
the deficiencies of the work, and an account of two
miraculous interventions (by their founder St. John
and by an image of the Virgin) at their convent in
July, 1739. On the former subject he says: "I
avoid repetition of the reasons for the lack of elegant
1728-1759] ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD 229
style and exactness of terms, and will conclude by
saying that various other deficiencies that may be en-
countered are irreparable; for these natives who
serve as amanuenses are so averse to all orthography
that even the greatest exactness in pointing out their
errors, in work of this sort, cannot prevent them
from making mistakes. Some words they separate
[from those] to which these belong, and others they
do not divide ; they write proper names with a small
[initial] letter, and place capitals in the midst of any
word; sometimes they set down the words without
the least understanding of the punctuation. On this
account it is necessary that the reader discreetly sup-
ply what [deficiencies] of this sort he may notice;
and if this [manuscript] be transcribed for any pur-
pose, that it be corrected beforehand - for this effort
has already been made, but has not been sufficient;
nor would it be, even if the manuscript were copied
over and over, for what is thus made correct in one
place is compensated by a new error in another
place." He ends with the usual protestation of
loyalty to the doctrines and precedents of the church,
dated at Manila, July 10, 1740.]
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
INDIA COUNCIL
I wrote last year to your most illustrious Lord-
ship, by way of Nueva Espafia and Portugal, men-
tioning the pleasure which I felt at the news that
your most illustrious Lordship held the presidency
of the Council of the Indias; for besides the affec-
tion which I profess to your most illustrious Lord-
ship, ever since I experienced your kindness in
Balladolid, I have looked for the like success in the
management of the important affairs which are en-
trusted to the Council, and I hope that these unfor-
tunate and remote regions may have a share in the
good results which their government needs.
In regard to the troubles which have afflicted this
commonwealth: The Dutch, keen to avail them-
selves of opportunities to extend their commerce, sent
hither a warship in the year forty-four, under pre-
text of an embassy; it was in charge of Monsieur
Duvins, the second factor in their trade with Japon.
He carried letters from the governor and council of
Batavia for the governor and Audiencia here, in
which it was stated that he came to look for a bark
named "Cathalina Magdalena" - for which a Swiss
heretic had given pledges to the Company at Batavia
with his own person; it had sailed from here with
1728-1759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 23 1
the name "Sancta Ana," and a commission from the
governor here; but it was sold to the Company, who
changed its name, and in the charge of the same
Swiss it came back here to trade, with consignments
belonging to the Dutch. And since, in order to send
the squadron to China,48 the departure of the vessels
which were in this bay was prohibited, the said bark
was compelled to winter here; and, under pretext
of looking after these [commercial] interests, the
Dutch sent their envoy with credentials. He carried
himself, while here, with the air of an ambassador,
and claimed that we should treat him as such, that
we should give him audience in a session of the royal
court, and that the auditors should visit him; but in
polite terms he was given to understand that without
express order from his Majesty he could not be
treated as he desired; and it was resolved that
answer should be made to the letters with entire
48 War had been declared by England against Spain in October,
1739, in consequence of injuries inflicted on British commerce in
the West Indies; but letters of marque and reprisal had been
issued by the English government in July preceding, under which
Captain Edward Vernon captured the city of Portobello ( Novem-
ber 22, 1739), and the castle at Cartagena. Captain George
Anson also was placed in command of a large fleet, to harass the
Spaniards along the coast of Peru, then to proceed northward,
attack Panama, and capture the Spanish treasure-fleet, in which
proceedings Vernon was to cooperate with him. Anson's fleet
was broken up by storms and sickness, and the two commanders
failed to make connections; so Anson, after various depredations
on the western coast of South America, sailed to China, where he
repaired his ship. Then he set out to meet the Spanish galleon
from Acapulco, the "Covadonga;" and on June 30, 1743, Anson
captured this vessel after a hot fight, with over 1,500,000 pesos
of silver, mostly in coin. To avenge this loss, a squadron of four
ships (the one here mentioned in our text) was despatched by the
Manila government in pursuit of Anson ; they went to China, but
could not find the Englishman, who had sailed for his own
country.
232 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
courtesy - stating that no such bark as the "Catha-
lina Magdalena" had landed at these islands; but
that, if through stress of any storm it should enter
our ports, it should receive succor, and our friendly
relations would be maintained in all things. His
principal topic, however, was that free trade should
be permitted to him here, and that the Dutch should
bring us all the merchandise necessary for us. But,
as he found no opening for a proposition of that sort
- on account of the prohibition [of commerce] in the
laws [of the kingdoms] and in the treaties of peace,
and because of the damage which would ensue to
the islands from admitting within them the different
religion which neighbors so cunning and so power-
ful [as the Dutch] would undertake to impart to
them -he returned home much disgusted, publish-
ing to the Dutch that Manila could be captured with
five hundred soldiers, and even urging this enter-
prise as an easy one on Barnet, the commander of the
English squadron which was then at Batavia.
The Dutch, not discomfited by this repulse, or by
the loss of 50,000 pardaos49 (which are 37,500 pesos)
-which as they write from Batavia, the above-
mentioned ambassador expended - made an agree-
ment with an English corsair who was at Batavia,
with a ship of fifty-two guns and another of thirty,
to the effect that under his own flag he should escort
four Dutch ships, which they despatched to Aca-
pulco last year with merchandise. And in order to
hinder the galleon from leaving this port they de-
ceived a Frenchman,50 who was very well known
49 Pardao (or par do) : a coin used in Portuguese India, worth
3 tostoons 3 vintens (Michaelis). This is equivalent to 360 reis,
or to very nearly 35 cents in United States money.
50 After Governor Torre's death (September 21 , 1745), the
1728-1759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 233
here, hinting to him that the squadron of Barenet
[sic~\ and the corsair were going to attack Manila;
and they hastened his embarkation, at the cost of
4,000 pesos, in order that he might notify us here.
Then they gave orders to the corsair, with two other
ships of their own, to let themselves be seen at the
entrance of Mariveles, in order to throw Manila
into alarm and hinder the sailing of the galleon. By
[causing] this fright they succeeded in their purpose
to prevent the sailing of the ship, which was light-
ened of its cargo as soon as the information which
the Frenchman gave reached us ; and the 4,000 pesos
were paid [to him] for the cost of this warning.
The said four ships sailed to leeward, and sighted
the coast of Ylocos, whence we had news of this.
But they could not attain their principal object; for
when the six ships had come together in China, and
were laden with [goods worth] 900,000 pardaos
(each containing six silver reals), they expected the
vessel which, after having given that warning here,
was to cross over to China51 and carry to the Dutch
■government of the islands ad interim was assumed by Fray Juan
de Arrechedera, bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia. His first care
was to inspect the defenses and supplies of Manila, in view of
the dangers which menaced the colony from the English; and he
sent to Batavia for cannon, guns and ammunition, his envoy be-
ing a Frenchman who was well accredited in the foreign factories,
named Antonio Pinon, who is probably the man mentioned by
Calderon. Pinon returned to Manila with those supplies, to the
value of 38,995 pesos. (Conception, Hist, de Philipinas, xi, pp.
305, 306.)
51 It is clear that the name China (which the French and
Italians pronounce Cina) is not the original name of that king-
dom, but is one imposed upon it by the foreigners who went
thither to trade and barter; it was adopted by the Portuguese,
and afterward by our people of the Philippines. Father Julio
Aleni, a Jesuit, in a book written in the Chinese language says,
in discussing this point: "China, according to foreigners, sig-
nifies 'the country or kingdom of silk;' and, since there is so great
2 34 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
a pilot for the navigation to Nueva Espana; but it
could not reach China, and was obliged to go to
Batavia. The four Dutch ships and the two [Eng-
lish] corsairs, resolved to carry out their project,
sailed from Canton on the fourteenth of September,
bound for the coast of Nueva Espana and Peru to
carry on illicit trade,52 and the English to make re-
prisals. But God, who chose to punish so mischie-
vous a design, permitted that a hurricane should
abundance of that commodity therein, those who sailed thither
to buy it would say, 'Let us go to the country of silk,' or 'to
China,' which means the same. The like statement was made to
me by Don Fray Gregorio Lopez, bishop of Basilea, in whose
charge is now the church of China, a religious of ours, and a native
of that empire. To this opinion also incline Trigautius and Kir-
cher." The most common and ordinary name which those people
give to their empire, not only in books but in conversation, is
Chung Kue, that is, "the kingdom in the middle." In former times
they gave this name to the province of Ho Nan, which lies almost
in the middle and heart of that empire; from that region it was
afterward applied to that entire country. Others say that the
Chinese regarded their kingdom as being in the middle of the
world, through their ignorance of the many kingdoms that the
world contains. For that reason they also call it Tien Hia, that
is, "the world," or, "the largest or principal part of the world."
Another name they very commonly give to it, calling it Hoa
Kue, or Chung Hoa, which means "flowery kingdom," or "gar-
den, forest, and pleasant place of the middle of the world." In
the time of the emperor Xun this name was much used, and it is
still used in literature. It is a very suitable name for that empire,
for in truth it is throughout a beautiful garden and a peaceful
and pleasant forest. (Domingo F. Navarrete's Tratados histo-
ricos, pp. i, 2.)
52 See Raynal's account of "the settlements, wars, policy, and
commerce of the Dutch in the East Indies," in his £.tablissemens
et commerce des Europeens, i, pp. 1 51-260. An interesting
description of Batavia, the capital of the Dutch possessions in
the Orient, is given in pp. 221-228; and an account of the organ-
ization, administration, and policy of the Dutch East India Com-
pany, in pp. 158-161, 228-255. The foundation and early history
of the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope are related in
pp. 201-213.
1728-1759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 235
attack them, when they were four days out from
Canton ; and as a result the two corsairs were driven
back to China - the larger vessel dismasted and bat-
tered, and the smaller one badly damaged. The
four Dutch ships, badly leaking, spent twelve days
in searching for an anchorage on the coast of Ylocos,
in order to make repairs; but not rinding one, they
went back to Batavia, with their goods damaged.
According to what is written to us in a despatch that
is just received from Batavia -from a person who
was sent there from here to make observations on the
condition of the English piratical squadron -the
Dutch lost on their merchandise half of its value;
and the corsair sold for 17,000 pardaos his ship of
fifty-two guns, with all its military supplies, since it
was no longer fit for navigation, while he went with
the other and smaller ship - it is said without [stop-
ping for] food - to another port to repair it. [It is
also reported] that the squadron of Barenet had de-
parted for Bombain, toward the Persian Gulf, to
cruise against the French, from whom he seized at
the Straits [of Malacca] nearly a million pesos.
The person who was sent from here to Batavia
(who is a Malabar) with a balandra was detained
there under the pretext that the governor had gone
away, and orders were given that he should not be
permitted to depart until the governor's return. But
he informed us of everything, by a vessel which he
despatched with six men and a French pilot; and
he reported that three Dutch fragatas were being
equipped and laden with merchandise in order to
carry on illicit trade at the entrance of [the Gulf of]
Californias, carrying [respectively] forty, thirty,
and twenty-five cannon. In his opinion, this was
236 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
the cause of his detention, in order that, by news
[from him] not reaching Manila, the galleon should
not sail for Nueva Espana, and their intention not
be known here.
On account of all these advices, and those which
we had previously received by way of China making
the same statement about the English, it was resolved
here that, since the chief [cause for] fear, which was
the said squadron - which occasioned the letter with
order from the Marques de la Ensenada,53 to give
warning that a ship should not sail from here with
cargo - had ceased, and since the commonwealth was
in the most deplorable extremity, with a shipment of
goods which had been driven back to port, and laden
and unladen the second time, and in evident risk of
being lost, a final effort was made by dividing the
53 Apparently a member of the royal Council ; he sent orders
that during the war with Great Britain no galleon should sail
from Manila for Acapulco, stating that the king thus decreed
in order to prevent those rich cargoes from falling into the hands
of the English. The merchants petitioned Governor Arrechedera
to suspend this decree, at least by permitting them to send to
Acapulco the goods which had been registered for that port three
years before -which were already damaged by this delay, and
would be ruined by a longer one; he did so (with the advice of
his counselors), and the galleon "Rosario" and the patache "Pilar"
were sent with cargoes in June, 1746. To accomplish this, in
the exhausted condition of the colonial treasury, the merchants
were obliged to contribute 50,000 pesos for the outfitting of the
ships and other expenses; and the royal officials, with the con-
sent of the ecclesiastical cabildo, borrowed from the funds in the
treasury belonging to the cathedral 29,805 pesos. The ships were
manned with crews of 500 and 350 men respectively. They
made the voyage safely, and returned to Manila with the situado
for that year and 30,000 pesos on the arrearages in those of pre-
vious years. The "Rosario" was again despatched with a cargo,
and with request for the situados which had been held back in
Mexico; as these amounted to six, the islands were in great need,
and the royal treasury almost empty; but the vessel was ill-con-
structed, and was driven back to port by storms.
1 7 28-1 759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 2 37
cargo between two ships equipped for war. One of
these carried seventy cannon and the other fifty-two
(seventy and forty [respectively] being mounted),
and a corresponding number of men, resolved to
defend their property and with sufficient force to
make resistance to the entire squadron of Barenet,
whose ships carried fifty-two, forty-five, forty, and
thirty cannon. For the cost of this enterprise
the body of merchants offered to aid with 50,000
pesos in Acapulco; and this effort seemed neces-
sary, for, as the viceroy of Mexico had orders
not to allow any money to come here, he understood
them so strictly that last year he sent a bark54 without
one real. Nevertheless, he was not ignorant that
the situado had not been sent here for three years:
that with this, and the failure of the [Acapulco]
trade, the treasury of the islands ran short 60,000
pesos each year in customs and anchorage duties;
that the citizens would necessarily be reduced to
poverty, and that these domains were utterly help-
less; and that by despatching the aid in November
it would arrive here in entire safety from the Eng-
lish-who only through general lack of military
foresight were able to secure the prize which they
made; for these islands have various ports where
our ships can land (thus mocking the enemy), as
occurred in the late war; but when they come by
the ordinary route and the artillery is in the hold,
no other result [than their capture] can be expected.
The damage, most illustrious Sir, is already done,
B* Concepcion says (Hist, de Philipinas, xi, p. 237) that this
was " a little vessel, which was in the service of the missions and
presidios in California;" the viceroy sent it because, having heard
nothing from Manila for a long time, he feared that Anson had
caused destruction there.
238 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
but it calls to heaven for a remedy for the future.
That which I propose is, that, since [the merchan-
dise for] this commerce was formerly supplied,
either by sending our barks to the Malabar coast, or
by Armenians, Moros, or Malabars coming thence
with their ships and goods -only tolerating that
they might bring some French pilot -orders be
given to observe this plan so strictly that warning
be given to the Audiencia, the archbishop, and the
city [of Manila] that they shall give information if
the governor shall contravene those orders, and
some exemplary punishment be meted out. For the
despotic power which the governors, under pretext
of their services, have assumed is great; and the
freedom which they have given to the English and
the French55 has arrived at being general license.
55 Raynal devotes book iv of his Etablissemens et commerce des
Europeens (t. i, pp. 400-548) to the "voyages, settlements, wars,
and commerce of the French in the East Indies." The first voyage
to India undertaken by a French commercial company (1601)
was commanded by Pyrard de Laval, whose account of his ad-
ventures in the Maldive Islands has already been cited in these
volumes; but this enterprise was unsuccessful. After various
abortive attempts by Frenchmen to engage in the Oriental trade,
an East India Company was formed in France (1664) by the
great Colbert, with an exclusive charter and many special privi-
leges. The company made a settlement in Madagascar, which
was abandoned in 1670, and the French ships then went to India,
where they established a post at Surat, and afterward one at
Pondicherry. At first the trade prospered, especially at the latter
post ; but after a time the affairs of the company were mismanaged,
its funds diminished so that ruinous expedients, only temporarily
successful, were resorted to; its markets at home were spoiled by
the sale of India goods, taken by French privateers from English
and Dutch prizes, at very low prices ; for lack of money, the com-
pany could not keep up its purchases in India; heavy duties were
laid on all India goods; the conduct of the home government
toward the company was, although vacillating, generally oppress-
ive, and its administration corrupt; and the company long strug-
gled on the brink of ruin. At the end of the fifty years' term of
1728-1759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 239
From this prohibition it follows that they cannot
gain so much knowledge about the country and its
forts, and that they cannot so greatly injure this com-
their charter, they secured ( 17 14) an extension for ten years more;
and in the period of "frenzied finance" engineered by John Law
(1716-21) various other trading companies were merged in this
one, which later was substantially aided by the French govern-
ment. For a time the company acquired great power and ex-
tensive territories in India; but war broke out between France
and England, and in 1761 Pondicherry was captured and destroyed
by the English. Afterward, from 1764 to 1769, the company
conducted a prosperous Oriental trade; but its affairs had long
been mismanaged, and the government had meddled with these
unduly, while there had been much corruption among both its
directors and its officials. It was found to be heavily indebted,
and its finances fell into almost hopeless confusion; and finally
a royal decree dated August 15, 1769, suspended the exclusive
privileges granted to the Company of the Indies, and gave all
Frenchmen liberty to navigate and trade beyond the Cape of
Good Hope. The company thereupon undertook to liquidate
their affairs, and made over to the government (April 7, 1770)
their property, the latter assuming the debts and obligations of
the company.
In the period 1725 to 1770, the East India Company of France
sent out 761 trading ships, an average of 17 each year; the num-
ber in 1725 was 33, but it dwindled toward the close of that period
until, in 1769, it was but 3; the ships, during the 45 years, were
manned by 87,223 men, an average of 115 to each ship. The
amount of merchandise carried to the Indias varied from 7,800,-
000 livres' worth (in 1769) to 612,000 (in 1764), and for the
entire period was 133,000,000. The vessels that returned to
France numbered 585 ; they carried thither goods which had cost
344,000,000 livres in the East, and which were sold in France for
636,000,000: the years in which these sales produced most profit
were: 1741, a gain of 12,327,000 livres; 1752, 13,719,000 livres;
and 1755, 12,785,000 livres. During the first decade, the company
paid on its sales, as duties to the crown, the sum of 25,000 livres
annually; then until 1765, with a few exceptions, 3,000 livres a
year; and during 1765-71, sums varying from 538,000 to 126,000
livres a year. The annual dividends varied usually from eight and
a quarter to three millions of livres; steadily decreasing (in groups
of years) to the latter figure; in 1746 the dividend was 15,000,-
000, but in that year the company borrowed the large sum of
25,000,000. In 1765 the dividend was but 766,000 livres. Its
capital in 1725 was 100,000,000 livres due from the crown, and
39,835 in its ships and other assets. In June, 1747, the govern-
240 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
merce, [as hitherto] ; for the Asiatics are never so
shrewd as the Europeans, and their only concern is
for their business, without meddling in observations
of our forts or our forlorn condition. To this rem-
edy I add that which I have proposed to the Coun-
cil, and which on this occasion I repeat.
Observing the aforesaid freedom, the Dutch have
ventured to come [against us] with the ease which
the Swiss heretic had represented to them; and if
this Swiss had not been allowed to come here with
his bark, he would not have involved us in such dif-
ficulties with the Dutch, for they, in pique, under-
took to introduce their commerce into Nueva Espana
- tempting the viceroy with 300,000 pesos which
they carried thither last year, planning to give him
this money so that he should tolerate [their trad-
ing]. And since they are now returning I fear that
they are planning to occupy some port in California,56
ment increased its obligations to the company to 180,000,000
livres, in compensation for depriving it of the monopoly of the sale
of tobacco, and engaged to pay it the interest on that sum for-
ever at the rate of five per cent. (See a tabulated statement of
the affairs of the French company, at the end of the atlas volume
of Raynal's work.)
After the exclusive privileges of the company were suspended,
the India commerce was carried on by private persons, and steadily
flourished. Raynal presents another table, showing the net pro-
duct of this private commerce, as indicated by the sales at the
French port of l'Orient, during 1771-78 inclusive, of merchan-
dise brought from the Indies, China, and the islands of France
and Bourbon; it shows a regular and large increase, save in 1778.
The amounts of these sales vary from 10,336,000 livres in 1771
to 27,509,000 in 1777; in the following year the amount was
but 14,026,000. The total sales for the eight years amounted to
149,273,000 livres, an annual average of 18,659,000.
56 "[Lower] California serves as a way-station for the vessels
which sail from the Philippines to Mexico; Cape St. Lucas, sit-
uated at the southern extremity of the peninsula, is the place where
they halt. They find there a good port, fresh food, and signals
1728-1759] ENRIQUEZ TO PRESIDENT 24 1
in order that it may serve them as a magazine - like
the island of Curazas [i.e., Curagoa] in the North
Sea - and to make arrangements for carrying on their
commerce from Batavia with the same ease as from
here. And in order to prevent these or others from
undertaking such a scheme (which would be the de-
struction of America), I have collected testimony
regarding all which can aid the Council to realize
how, without any expense to the royal treasury, and
with the men of whom we have here more than
enough belonging to the navy-yard and ships,
[Manila] can be fortified for that part of America,
for the security of both these and those domains;
but I hope for the success of the former proposition,
in order not to pile up schemes. I assure your most
illustrious Lordship that this can be pushed forward
in a way which will be very useful to the nation;
because, in order to keep the Dutch under control,
it is enough that they know that we keep in readiness
the three galleons each of seventy cannon, which the
commerce ought to have, and four fragatas besides,
with which we can disturb the commerce of the
Straits for the inland regions. This is especially
easy to do with the English, because, even though
they send squadrons from Europa, many of their
men die, and they use up their men as fast as they
gain ground ; and in this country they can never do
us harm if we do not give way [to negligence], as
hitherto [we have done].
I hope that your most illustrious Lordship will
which warn them if any enemy has appeared in those places which
are most dangerous for them. It was in 1734 that the galleon
landed there for the first time; and the orders given to it, and its
necessities, have drawn it to that place ever since." (Raynal,
fitablissemens et commerce des Europeens, ii, p. 106.)
242 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
pardon the annoyance of this, as springing from my
zeal57 for the service of the king and the welfare of
the nation; and I confide in the inborn devotion
[thereto] of your most illustrious Lordship, whose
life I entreat God our Lord to preserve for the many
years which I desire and need. Manila, July 16,
1746. Most illustrious Sir, I kiss the hands of your
most illustrious Lordship. Your most devoted and
humble servant,
Pedro Calderon y Henriquez (with rubric)
[Addressed: "To the most illustrious Sefior Don
Joseph de Carbajal y Lancaster, of the Council and
cabinet of the Indias, and president of the Coun-
cil."]
57 The writer of this letter was one of the auditors of the royal
Audiencia at Manila ( Conception, Hist, de Philipinas, xi, p. 295).
LETTER OF A JESUIT TO HIS BROTHER
As the ships which in the years 47 and 48 sailed
from here to Acapulco were driven back to these
islands, the letters which in those years I wrote to my
brother could not be despatched. This obliges me
to avail myself of a safer opportunity, that afforded
by the voyage of the father procurators, Pedro Mu-
rillo58 and Bernardo Pazuengos, who for many and
important reasons are going to Europe by way of the
coast (that is, the Orient) in a French ship which is
going from here to France. In the letters which I
wrote in past years, I informed my brother of the
enterprise of the missions in Jolo and Mindanao, in
which we were involved by the governor of these
islands, Fray Juan de Arrechedera, by the hasty re-
mittance of the letters despatched from Don Felipe
(whom may God keep) to the sultans of Jolo and
Mindanao, and with his own energetic exhortations
and promises to our provincial -so that he gave no
opportunity to take any counsel, or to furnish means
for avoiding the most serious difficulties. [The
worst of these] was, as we soon perceived, that at the
very time when he despatched with embassies the
58 Evidently referring to Pedro Murillo Velarde, extracts from
whose Historia de Philipinas have already appeared in this series.
The phrase "the Orient" alludes to the route via India to Europe.
244 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
letters of our king to the said sultans, the said Gov-
ernor Arrechedera sent an urgent invitation to the
sultan of Jolo to come to Manila, where he would be
hospitably received and entertained. We all knew
that the object of the governor was, that the sultan
might bring here abundance of pearls and gold;
and we also knew that with the departure of the sul-
tan from his kingdom the mission would come to an
end, as has actually happened.59 At the time we
were only mistaken in one thing, and that was, to feel
sure that the fathers would not leave Jolo or Minda-
nao ; for we reckoned that if the sultan should leave
Jolo the natives would kill the fathers of that mis-
sion, and the sultan would easily justify himself be-
cause the act had been committed in his absence, and
he could even pretend great sorrow for the deaths of
the fathers; and in Mindanao, when it was known
that in Jolo they had killed the fathers, they would
do the same there to those engaged in the Mindanao
mission.
In reality the fathers had arrived at Zamboanga.
When the Moros found themselves obliged to re-
ceive the fathers in their kingdoms, according to the
promise which they had given in their replies to our
king and to the governor of Manila, the two sultans
agreed between themselves that after they had ad-
mitted the fathers [to their countries] they would
treacherously kill them, and so that their murder
could not be attributed to the influence of the sul-
tans. The means which the sultan of Jolo took was,
69 Full accounts of this mission may be found in Ventura del
Arco MSS., iv, pp. 447-591, in letters from the Jesuits Pedro
Estrada and Juan Angles, dated June 25, 1748, and June 18,
1749, respectively - with letter from Felipe V to the sultan of
Jolo, and the latter's reply.
1728-1759] MASVESI TO HIS BROTHER 245
that after he left his kingdom they should kill the
fathers - although God our Lord disposed affairs
otherwise from the schemes which the sultan, with
unheard-of craft and perfidy, had plotted.
In order that my brother may be fully informed,
and may correctly relate everything to all those
whom my brother may think expedient to tell of it,
I send that enclosure which Father Ygnacio Malaga
wrote to me; this account is worthy of entire cred-
ence, since he was almost an eyewitness of everything
which he relates, being one of the missionaries ap-
pointed for Mindanao.
If what Governor Arrechedera is doing here in
Manila with the sultan of Jolo could be known in
Madrid and Roma, and in every other country,
people would have no difficulty in believing the
enormous perfidy, treachery, and deceit of the said
sultan and other Moros. It is nearly a year since the
said sultan of Jolo arrived at Manila, accompanied
by three concubines and several slave-girls. At his
arrival the artillery was discharged; and he was
lodged very magnificently, in a house provided be-
forehand for this purpose, outside the walls of
Manila, with a continual guard of soldiers, whose
captain was always under the orders of the sultan.
The entry of the sultan into Manila was arranged
with so much pomp and ostentation that everyone
said no more could have been done for the entry of
the prince of Espafia if he should come to Manila;
but all that is told is less [than the reality]. The gov-
ernor seeing a scarf woven with pearls and ornaments
in gold, immediately his eyes and his heart went
out toward the scarf and the many other pearls and
jewels which he knew the sultan carried. At this the
246 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
governor entirely closed his eyes to all the informa-
tion that was given to him - not only that furnished
by the fathers of the said missions who had come
back to Manila, but the letters which the governor
of Samboanga had written to him -openly saying
that he placed more confidence in the king of Jolo
than in the fathers who sent the information. What
causes most general sorrow here (and especially to
the archbishop) 60 is, that on account of the governor
not being willing to listen to anything against the
sultan, that is coming true which the fathers said to
his Lordship - that the said sultan from Manila
would cause the ruin of these islands, causing the
Joloans by piratical raids to carry away many Chris-
tian Indians as captives, and to destroy churches and
villages. This is what they are actually doing, as is
written by the fathers in Visayas, whose letters I
have seen within a few days, and the governor will
not permit that a word be uttered in order that it
may not be said (although it is well known) that the
Moros are destroying the island with the gunpowder
and balls which have been sent them from Manila,
and the sultan is paying for them with the pearls and
gold which he has given to the said governor. What
continually renews the grief of all is, that not only
60 This was Fray Pedro de la Santisima Trinidad Martinez de
Arizala; he was a native of Madrid, and had been an auditor
in the royal Audiencia of Quito for seventeen years, and was an
honorary member of the Council of the Indias. But, ^dis-
illusioned with the world, and weary of honors, his sensitive
conscience found room in the estate of a Franciscan religious, tak-
ing their habit, and professing their austere life." He took
possession of the archbishopric of Manila on August 27, 1747, at
the age of fifty-two years. Difficulties arose between him and
Arrechedera; but he contented himself with laying these troubles
before the court at Madrid. He died on May 28, 1755. (Con-
ception, Hist, de Philipinas, xii, pp. 38-4°> and xiii, pp. 338, 339«)
1 728-1 759] MASVESI TO HIS BROTHER 247
is no remedy applied to so dire evils, but that the
governor continues to entertain the sultan in Manila
as if he were our friend or defender, while he is the
greatest traitor and enemy that this Christian church
has had; and we greatly fear that by this time the
said sultan is making himself master of the post at
Samboangan.61
61 See the detailed account of this episode, and of events con-
nected with it, in Conception's Hist, de Philipinas, xii, chaps, ii-v,
which may thus briefly be summarized:
In 1735 Maulana, sultan of Jolo, abdicated in favor of his
son Mahamad Alimudin. This youth was "brought up in the
school of his father," in matters of craft and policy; he had
spent some time at Batavia, where he became proficient in the
Arabic and Malayan languages, and in the Koran -"which he
explained with so much erudition that the Joloans gave him the
title of chief pandita of that kingdom," and he attained among
the Moros "an authority almost supreme." He negotiated for
peace with the Spaniards, which was effected in 1737; he prom-
ised to restore the Christian captives, but his datos resented this,
and refused to obey. In May, 1740, a Recollect priest, Fray
Hypolito de San Agustin, was captured by Moro pirates; but
certain Joloans - especially their pandita, one Yaloc - rescued him
and took him to Jolo, where he was kindly received and cared for.
The sultan demanded a ransom of 12,000 pesos for him; after
many difficulties and negotiations, and some aid from the Jesuits,
the captive priest secured his liberty by binding the Recollect
province to pay the amount demanded for ransom. Soon after-
ward, the sultan was persuaded by Commandant Zacharias and
the Jesuit Isasi at Zamboanga to commute his claim to 1,000
pesos, which was gladly paid by the Recollects. The peace made
with Alimudin stopped the invasions by the Joloans, but the Ti-
rones from the Bornean coast continued their destructive raids.
Remonstrances being made at Madrid by the representatives of
Philippine interests, the king wrote the letters to the rulers
of Jolo and Tamontaca (the latter being Ameril Mahomenin
Campsa), which have been previously mentioned in this series;
they were received at Manila in July, 1746, and were sent to their
destination by the hands of the Jesuits Isasi and Arcada. These
envoys conducted various negotiations with the sultan, who de-
manded (and received) from the Manila government aid of
money, guns, and iron - for Jolo, to repay him for the expenses
which he had incurred in aiding the Spaniards against the Tirones ;
for Tamontaca (or Mindanao), to aid in the war with Gula,
24^ THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
It is sufficient to have pointed this out in order that
my brother may gain knowledge of the condition in
which affairs are. What concerns the mission in
Mindanao is made sufficiently clear in the letter
from Father Ygnacio Malaga, and everything that
he says is the simple truth; but, in order that this
truth may not be smothered with the reports which
this governor of Manila is sending to the court at
Madrid, I have sent my brother that letter of Father
Malaga, entreating him to please show it to the
father procurator-general Pedro Ygnacio Altami-
rano, and to any other person whom my brother may
think best, for the sake of the credit of this province
and of the entire Society - for they do not lack many
rivals, who are not willing that the ill-success of the
missions of Jolo and Mindanao should be attributed
to the perfidy and malice of the Moros; but they
try to charge it to the very fathers of the Society.
My brother will also please tell the father pro-
curator Altamirano how the father provincial Pedro
de Estrada had written to inform his Reverence that
all the letters of contract on our side in favor of his
illustrious Lordship Fray Arrechedera could not
be worded otherwise, since we found ourselves
obliged to this by the urgent request of the governor
himself, and he had to see all of them. But in real-
ity the course of the said governor cannot in con-
the son of the rebel Malinog. Arrangements were made for the
opening of Jesuit missions in Jolo and Tamontaca ; but they soon
came to naught. In September, 1748, a rebellion in Jolo un-
seated Alimudin, and sent him a fugitive to Zamboanga; and,
Ameril and Gula having become reconciled, threatened treachery
sent the Jesuit Moreno back from Tamontaca to the same refuge.
Alimudin went to Manila, where he was received with much
eclat by Governor Arrechedera; he was there apparently con-
verted to the Christian faith by the governor's persuasions.
1728-1759] MASVESI TO HIS BROTHER 249
science be approved \abonar\ except with the re-
flection that Father Altamirano knows very well
that our letters on this matter were being miscon-
strued, and that his Reverence would not be influ-
enced to bind himself in virtue of them to favor the
said Sefior Arrechedera. In order to make this
more certain, the said father provincial Estrada
wrote a letter in order that the said Father Altami-
rano should not pay any attention to this undertaking
of ours; and I, as his secretary at the time of the
said father provincial, wrote the third letter, as I
did all the rest.
Now it is evident to me that the archbishop of
Manila is informing his Majesty very thoroughly
of the proceedings of the said governor; and cer-
tainly it would go ill with us with the king and his
Council, if our reports should be presented in favor
of the said governor, while those which the arch-
bishop is now sending are entirely contrary to this.
Here we are, as if in Limbo, for we have not had
mails from Europe for more than three years, ex-
cept the news which came from China and Batavia.
The father provincial Pedro de Estrada died at
the end of the year 48; his office was temporarily
filled by Father Jose Samaniego, and in seven
months he also died. God our Lord has freed these
islands from the scourge of the English, for the
squadron of forty-three ships which was destined for
this coast undertook first to seize Pondicheri and
Madras (which they thought would be an affair of
a few days) , and then go on to Philipinas ; but they
did not capture either Pondicheri or Madras, and
much or even the greater part of the squadron was
■destroyed in a fierce storm. If they had come here,
25° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
it is certain that now this country would be in the
power of the English; for all the precautions that
were taken here for our defense were festivities with
the sultan of Jolo and his concubines, to the pro-
found sorrow of the community; etc. Cavite, De-
cember 2, 1749.
[Addressed: "To my brother Pedro, the abbot."]
COMMERCE OF THE PHILIPINAS
ISLANDS,
AND ADVANTAGES WHICH THEY CAN YIELD TO HIS
MAJESTY CARLOS III
To the king our sovereign Carlos III:62
Sire: The pressing obligation which rests upon
all good vassals to render some service which shall
be profitable to their sovereigns encourages my faint-
62 "By the marriage with Elizabeth Farnese (ancestry normal),
Philip V had, as an heir, Charles III, of Spain, who was the best
of the more modern sovereigns of that country - in fact, the only
normal one since before the days of the Emperor Charles V,
now seven generations in the background. Not that Charles III
inherited any of the ancient genius, for that had gone, never to
appear again. He was, however, ([to cite] Hume), 'an enlight-
ened, generous, and just king and a noble and magnanimous man,'
and (Rose's Biographical Dictionary) 'possessed abilities as a
monarch, and virtues as a private citizen, . . . was a pop-
ular sovereign and a great economist of time, scrupulously me-
thodical in all his operations.' " Thus writes Dr. F. A. Woods,
in his Heredity in Royalty (New York, 1906), pp. 155, 156-a
book which endeavors, on scientific lines, to ascertain the influence
of heredity as displayed in the royal families of Europe. The
chapter on the rulers of Spain is found at pp. 1 24-1 71. He says
(p. 138) : "The origin of the well-known insanity in the Spanish
and Austrian houses, perpetuated over thirteen generations and
involving more than a score of individuals, is a very interesting
question. It cannot be traced with certainty prior to Isabella,
the Queen of John II, of Castile. This Isabella was out and out
insane, according to the English alienist, W. W. Ireland; and
from her, onward, the insanity passed along in one form or
another by the very intermarriages which their pride and political
25 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
heartedness to lay at the royal feet of your Majesty
this work, which I offer with the utmost submission,
with the assurance of my most loyal desires that your
Majesty may enjoy the most prosperous and glorious
reign over these dominions. [I am also urged on
by] my own practical knowledge [of the subject],
and the demand of the entire nation, especially of the
mercantile interests - although little do they suspect
that I have undertaken the enterprise with so much
energy from persuading myself that my good for-
tune would gain for this act your Majesty's kindly
regard, which, coming to the knowledge of your
loyal vassals, will be received with the utmost satis-
motives caused them to arrange, with the intended idea of mak-
ing permanent their world power, but with the inevitable result
of losing that same prestige by placing it in the hands of the un-
fortunate children whose inheritance was necessarily mental weak-
ness as the result of such unwise wedlocks."
For account of Carlos Ill's reign, see Manuel Danvila y Co-
llado's Reinado de Carlos III (Madrid, 1894). An interesting
description of this monarch's character and mode of life may be
found in the Dublin Magazine for April, 1763, pp. 238, 239; it
is written by a clergyman named Clark, "chaplain to the Earl of
Bristol, late ambassador at the court of Madrid." He says, among
other things: "He is the greatest Nimrod of his time; he sacrifices
everything to this favorite pleasure ; he was disgusted at his public
entry, because it hindred him of four days sport. He stayed three
days at Toledo, and killed six wild mountain-cats, which, as I
was well informed by those who had calculated the expence of that
expedition, cost him exactly 1000 1. a cat." "It has been imagined
that he is a very weak prince, and of little or no understanding:
It is a great mistake ; he has some parts, but is mulish and obstinate
to the last degree ; and, by being constantly flattered, he imagines
that he has more understanding than he really possesses. He is
reserved beyond the common reserve of princes, has no confidant,
and communicates his will only by his orders to put into execution.
He can neither be led nor driven; all must come from himself."
"He allows no minister to remonstrate or argue with him." "He
arrested and banished the inquisitor-general, and sent him prisoner
to a convent. He engaged in the present war with England,
contrary to the sentiments of his ministers, and in direct opposition
to the voice of the whole nation."
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 253
faction, and as a proof of your paternal affection and
your sincere desire for their advancement.
I entreat our Lord that He will grant you all suc-
cess and prosperity, and a long life, in order that
these realms may enjoy for very many years the
felicitous rule which the nation ought to expect from
the distinguished qualifications possessed by your
Majesty, from which it hopes to become more glori-
ous than ever.
Prologue to the Reader
Commerce is contemporaneous with human soci-
ety, from whose necessities it was born. [The author
here sketches the origin and development of com-
merce among civilized nations, and states how in his
undertaking this work he received the approval of
the late king of Spain Fernando VI.]
Commerce of the Philipinas Islands; the benefit and
advantages which the said islands ought to yield
to his Majesty {whom may God preserve).
[This will seem] a strange statement when it is
considered that the Philipinas Islands since the year
1565 have caused to Espafia every year a very great
expense, without affording the least temporal advan-
tage; and when I now try to demonstrate the ad-
vantage and benefit of them to the crown of Espafia
some will say that it is already time to stop; and
others will ask, "Who is this newcomer63 who so
63 A copy of the naturalization papers of Nicolas Norton y
Nicols as a Spaniard exists in the Archivo general de Indias at
Sevilla; its pressmark is, "Est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 13, libro 12, fol.
226b -229b," and the document is dated at Aranjuez, August 3,
1758. Norton became a Catholic, and was allowed to trade in
the Philippines. The allusion to "192 years" is somewhat in-
254 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
boldly tries to persuade us that the Spaniards have
neglected their duty for one hundred and ninety-two
years?" But so it is, and now is the time to warn
them of this neglect; and, although ignorance at-
tempts to prevent this, it shall not make me desist
from the undertaking. I desire that his Majesty
(whom may God preserve) may have positive
knowledge of the treasure which he possesses in the
Philipinas Islands; and I am undertaking to place
before his Majesty plain and clear evidence that they
can and ought to furnish very great profit, and main-
tain themselves from their own products.
I make no pretensions as an author, nor do I claim
to have the ability for that; therefore let us lay
aside panegyrics, which are so unprofitable; for,
even if this little work deserves them, that does not
comport with my purpose, which is simply the serv-
ice of his Majesty and the advancement of his realms.
As regards all that I shall be able to state of the
products of commodities which the said islands
yield, in order that every one may know that I do
not advocate something that is not so, I recommend
(although various persons have written on the sub-
ject) to the curious the two books of the reverend
master Father Pedro Murillo Velarde, of the Soci-
ety of Jesus, entitled Historia de las Is las Philipinas
and Historia geografica of the same Philipinas Is-
lands.
These are worthy of attention, and in regard to
what is theoretical can furnish much light; as for
what concerns the practical, and the experience
correct, if he refers to the first discovery of the islands, which
occurred in 1565; or else he may have begun to write out this
proposal to the king as early as 1757, which would tally with the
above numbers.
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 255
which I have acquired at the cost of much money,
labor, and application, I must make evident all the
following.
First: We must consider what commodities or
products these islands contain or produce, as well as
the fact that we do not have to build castles in the
air or proceed on fanciful assumptions; all that I
assert shall be from my own knowledge.
Second: Whether the products or commodities
can be used, and to explain and demonstrate how we
can avail ourselves of them; and all that I shall say
on this subject will proceed from the long experi-
ence which I have had.
Third: The advantages and benefits which will
redound to his Majesty, to the Spaniards settled in
those regions, and to the Indians themselves.
The first point: As the products of the Philipinas
Islands are enumerated by the reverend Father Mu-
rillo (whom may God keep in Paradise), whom I
have cited, and those of each island separately, in or-
der not to extend this little work needlessly I will
state the most important ones, which are the follow-
ing: Rice, sugar, cotton (of choice quality and very
fine), indigo, sulphur, siguey, balate, wax, pepper,
coffee, tortoise-shell, mother-of-pearl; gold, mines
of iron, and mines of copper (like that of Japon) ;
tobacco, brazil-wood [sibucao], and pearl-fisheries;
oil, cacao, birds'-nests, and ebony wood; lead (I be-
lieve that, as for the soil in some parts of Bisayas,64
it melts into lead, just as in the island of Mauricius,
which belongs to the French, it melts into iron) ;
64 In the text, Bisarjas, evidently a clerical error. This, and a
few similar discrepancies in the MS., strengthen the conjecture
that it is not written by Norton's own hand; it was probably
dictated by him to an amanuensis.
256 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
cocoanuts, which produce abundance of oil;65
horses; deer and buffaloes, from which the people
make what they call tapa [i.e.} dried beef], and also
use the sinews ; and bichuca, or rattans.66
The above-mentioned products are very abundant,
and exceedingly easy to collect. I do not, however,
wish to include the following, for the reasons which
I have mentioned : Lead, [of which] I have not per-
sonally actual experience, although I regard it as
being as sure as all the others ; coffee, which, as it is
not cultivated, is not abundant, and its consumption
is small for exportation, less than it would be for
Espana or Europa; iron, [the working of] which,
although it is very abundant, they have not yet suc-
ceeded in perfecting; the pearl-fisheries, which are
not operated; copper, the mines of which are not
worked ; and cocoanuts, which are little used outside
[the islands] except for oil and nails.67
The second: The commodities that I have men-
tioned are exported to the places that are enumerated
as follows, and sell at prices that are very profitable
65 See articles describing the cocoanut, its uses, culture, etc.,
in Census of the Philippine Islands, iv, pp. 53-76 ; its uses are thus
characterized (p. 72) : "Briefly summed up, its timber can be
employed in every form of house construction; its foliage in
making mats, sacks, and thatches; its fruit in curry and sweet-
meats; its oil for medicine, cookery, and illumination; its vari-
ous uses in the manufacture of wines, spirits, sugar, and vinegar."
See also various scientific articles regarding the culture of the
cocoanut palm, its enemies, and the qualities of its oil, in the
Philippine Journal of Science, Manila, 1906 (published by the
Philippine government).
66 Spanish, canas, which (as sometimes elsewhere) indicates
that this name was bestowed indifferently on the bamboo and the
rattan; but the latter is here meant, of course, as being named
bichuca (for bejuco).
67 Spanish, clauos ; apparently meaning that the natives used
in their housebuilding wedges made from the wood of the cocoa-
nut tree as a substitute for iron nails.
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 257
- although commerce has, as in all regions, its ups
and downs [sus altos y bajos]. To various ports of
China: rice, sugar, cotton, indigo, bichuca or rat-
tan, balate, pepper, tortoise-shell, mother-of-pearl,
brazil-wood, ebony, tapay the sinews of cattle, birds'-
nests, and lead when they have it. To the Malabar
coast and Persia: sugar in large quantities, which
is sold for money. To the Coromandel coast and
Bengala: sugar, indigo, brazil-wood, sulphur, pep-
per, siguey, birds'-nests, cotton, and often rice.
The third: The advantages and benefit which will
accrue to his Majesty from the commerce and expor-
tation of the commodities and products of those same
islands are various, to wit: The more that the com-
modities which they need from outside can be
supplied from the native products of the islands
themselves, the more silver remains in the [Span-
ish] dominions. The more commodities or fruits
are exported, so much more land will be cultivated,
and many more people employed ; and consequently
the tributes imposed by his Majesty can be all the
more easily collected, and from that time the royal
exchequer will be better filled; and the vassals, by
being kept busy, become more obedient and more
loyal. The Spanish traders who are established
there are favored [by such policy] ; for they obtain
their profits on both the exportation and the impor-
tation, and if one of these fail, the other will be able
to supply the deficiency; but the advantage will be
the greater if it can be obtained from both sources of
gain. When commerce is flourishing, his Majesty
will obtain greater profits from the customs duties,
for which reason it is highly expedient that his
Majesty encourage the cultivation of the land and
the increase of its products -a thing which I do not
25 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
consider difficult of accomplishment, as I have
already demonstrated in another little work, which
I have placed in the hands of the ministers.68
In order to demonstrate clearly how much the
people of Manila could avail themselves of the
products of the land, I will relate what occurred
with myself (and it is a circumstance which proves
what I advanced in the second point) , to wit : When
I was at Manila the exportation of sugar was rigor-
ously prohibited, so that hardly could a ship carry
away enough for its own supply, [the authorities]
telling the vessel-owners that it was against the
ordinances of his Majesty. I remained for some
time under this delusion, until I had carefully ex-
amined the said ordinances, from which it was clear
to me that his Majesty had decreed everything in
favor of his Indian vassals, and that his royal will
was, not to oppress them therein. It caused me, then,
much pain to see that this thing was so entirely mis-
understood, since this prohibition was diametrically
opposed to it ; for it forbade the people to enjoy the
benefits of the country which God had given them,
which the king never had intended to take away
from them - especially as this [commerce] is the
only means that they possess by which they can pay
their tributes. Finally I undertook to establish gen-
erally the exportation of sugar. Having been
warned of the difficulties, I went to the province
where it69 greatly abounds (which is called Pam-
68 Probably alluding to a document which is preserved in the
Archivo de Indias at Sevilla, by Norton y Nicols, dated at
Madrid, September 2, 1757; it will be mentioned in the biblio-
graphical section of this series (vol. liii).
69 The context would imply that sugar is here referred to ; but
the writer does not mention it again, and seems to have abandoned
his attempt to export it.
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 259
panga), and did what I could; it was agreed that I
should make an experiment, in order to please his
Lordship. I consented, on the condition that a cer-
tain Don Francisco Salgado, a careful and indus-
trious man, should be appointed my assistant; as I
had not the time to execute this plan, I only gave
him all [necessary] information and instructions.
At last we succeeded in making indigo so good that
it stood every test, the severest and most certain that
are known being those of water and of fire. I sent
specimens of that quality to China, the Coromandel
coast, Persia, and Londres [i.e., London] ; in the
first three places they were anxious to obtain it, and
offered good prices, and in the last-named one the
indigo that had cost 500 reals vellon was sold for
2,600 reals. They will be able to manufacture every
year such quantity as they desire.
I believe that I have succeeded in what I under-
took to demonstrate, which is as follows: First, to
make known the abundance of the products of the
Philipinas Islands; second, to prove from my own
experience that it is easy to secure the benefit of
these; third, to set forth the advantage and benefit
which will accrue to his Majesty, to the Spaniards
settled in those regions, and to the Indian vassals
generally.
I can say that charity has induced me to make
known what I have already related from my own ex-
perience, seeing that all that has hitherto been writ-
ten [on this subject] is very superficial ; nor can the
most intelligent man form from those books a stable
opinion of what these islands are capable of yield-
ing from their so abundant products.
This little work is condensed, but those who are
capable of comprehending it will see that it is [so]
260 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
on account of being written out of thorough under-
standing and knowledge of what I write about, and
not for lack of a very broad field in which I might
descant, for it cannot be denied that there is material
for filling a volume.
Nevertheless, I do not claim to lay down the law,
nor do I presume to change any system; my inten-
tion is only to depict things as they are, in order that
his Majesty may have actual knowledge of the treas-
ure which he possesses in these islands. No advan-
tage results to me, nor do I expect more than to be
a man ready to communicate [what he knows], and
desirous to do what shall depend on a limited abil-
ity, for the greater benefit of his Majesty and the
advancement of his realms. But it is already time
that we show in what consists the advantage and
benefit which will accrue to his Majesty from the
Philipinas Islands.
What precedes this serves only to demonstrate that
the Spaniards settled in Manila have a broad field
for carrying on a flourishing commerce, and even it
would redound much to the advantage of his
Majesty. But what I am earnestly advocating is
cinnamon, and it is of great importance to his
Majesty and worthy of his royal attention; and if I
say that no one has hitherto, or since Espafia con-
quered the Philipinas, made a proposition so certain,
so well founded, and so advantageous to his Majesty,
and to all his dominions and his vassals, it is not
much to say. For it is no exaggeration when I say
that it is more than the conquistador accomplished;
he succeeded, with honor and glory, in conquering
the islands, but they have always cost Espafia most
dearly for their maintenance. For not only do I
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 261
aim to relieve those expenses, which are so large, but
those islands can in a few years become a benefit to
his Majesty, and to his vassals, both Spaniards and
Indians. I do not ask these gratuities,70 nor that the
king should spend one maravedi; my chief object
and desire is, that a stable commerce be allowed
from those countries to these kingdoms by the most
direct route.
No one is ignorant of the vast amount of silver
which goes every year from Espafia to the Dutch
for the supply of cinnamon, for it is not less than
many millions of pesos duros each year, as they have
estimated ; but I affirm that this is because they [i.e.,
the Spaniards] are willing to let the silver go out [of
the country]. Espafia might with as good reason
send to Olanda to buy her wine as her cinnamon. I
will not undertake to argue whence it comes, al-
though I know it very well. What I am trying to
do, without offending any one, is to remedy this lack
which Espafia suffers, that the Spaniards may use
their good judgment and their reason and become
true patriots. What a pity it is that his Majesty,
possessing so noble a commodity, and being able to
place it on the market - with as good success as that
of Ceylan, and even at less than half of the price -
should permit so many millions of silver to pass
every year from his dominions to the Dutch ! which
is to furnish that people with arms for carrying on
war when opportunity may offer. It is well known
that Espafia consumes more cinnamon than all the
other nations ; can there, then, be greater folly? In
order (as I suppose) to humor the Dutch, Espafia
70 Spanish, estas ayudas de, followed by a blank space, doubt-
less intended to be filled by costas.
262 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
leaves unused the cinnamon which she has in her
own house, in order to buy it from those enemies and
the destroyers of the holy faith in those countries;
I say that this is opposed to the Christian religion,
and I prove it in a few words: if Espafla would
avail herself of this product which she could so
easily dispose of, the Dutch could not maintain
[their establishments in] the island of Ceylon, and
then Espafia could even introduce missions in that
island. But what foolish talk! The Dutch main-
tain Ceilon? The Spaniards support it; they pay
for its ships, its fortresses, and its garrisons which
the Dutch have there - although in order to destroy
these the Spaniards need neither balls, nor gun-
powder, nor war. If any one thinks that this is a
sweeping statement \_es adelantar mucho\ we are of
differing opinions, because to me it seems a moderate
one.
I am known as a man who has accomplished
much, who has traveled in .many lands, and who has
not passed through them heedlessly; nor have I
stopped to consider the expenditure of money, or the
risk to health, in order to satisfy my curiosity and
obtain well grounded knowledge of all things wher-
ever I have traveled. To the point: Samboanga,
the capital of the island of Mindanao, is the place
which could produce cinnamon as good as that of
Ceylon, if our people knew how to cultivate it; I
have already made the experiment, and it will yield
the amount that I shall require. The Dutch are well
aware of this, [as appears] by evidence which can
be verified by me ; for they, with their trained and
accustomed cunning, placed in the said island a stone
with the initial letters of [the name of] their com-
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 263
pany engraved on it, like those which they are wont
to place in their bales of goods, etc., by way of mani-
festing that these belong to the said company. The
said stone was brought to Manila while I was there,
and was delivered to the Marques de Obando ; and
his Lordship, knowing that I understood the tricks
and policy of those gentlemen, sent to call me, and,
showing me the stone, he said, "What is the meaning
of this stone, which they have brought to me under
such-and-such circumstances?" I replied to his
Lordship, "It is nothing; it is a mark which the
Dutch are wont to set up in order to have a pretext,
when opportunity offers, for laying claim to the
lands in which they have placed the said stones."70*
No one, then, who understands that people -keen,
mercenary, and always on the watch - will fail to
agree with me, that they do not set up these stones in
barren islands, unless it is evident that, on account of
the location of these islands, it will not suit the
Dutch to have [other people there as] close neigh-
bors. When they abandoned the island of Mauri-
siusr considering it uninhabitable on account of its
sterility, they left no engraved stone in it. It is a
circumstance which deserves attention, and is even
70* Concepcion mentions this stone (Hist, de Philipinas, xii, p.
25), found on a site selected by the Dutch; they had marked "a
stone with the letter T, which, as it was interpreted, signified,
'annexed to Terrenate.' This same token they had placed in other
uninhabited islands in the vicinity. This marked stone was dug
up by the sultan of Mindanao, who sent it to the governor of
Samboangan, Don Pedro Zacharias. Two Dutch chalupas went
to call the Mindanaos to account for this act, intending to obtain
satisfaction for it by placing the marked stone in the locality of
Silangan, on the mainland of Mindanao; but Radiamura cour-
ageously drove back the Dutch who made a landing -who, in
retreating, swore to return with adequate forces for that enter-
prise."
264 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
worthy of coming to his Majesty's knowledge ; and
likewise those who have or have had practical
knowledge of these matters regard them in this way.
Finally, I have compared the quality of the soil at
Samboanga with that of Ceylon, also the leaves of
the cinnamon tree; still more, I have gathered the
bark of this tree at Samboanga and made certain
experiments with it, and when I compared it with
that from Ceylon they were of equal value. I con-
sider, then, [from] the manner of making these
experiments with the cultivation of the soil and the
culture of the cinnamon, [that] it will prove to be
equal [to that of Ceylon]. Finally, in commencing
the experiments which I have made - with the great-
est application and industry, and enormous expenses
-they are quite sufficient to prove that it will
be possible, in the term of five or six years, to pro-
duce a large part of the best cinnamon which comes
to Europa. This I have learned from the experi-
ment with a quantity of chocolate which I ordered
to be made in my own house at Manila; this product
has been greatly liked by the ladies, and by people
of taste and understanding, in the said city.
In view of these proofs, which I have from actual
knowledge of the method of cultivating and prepar-
ing this product, it causes me surprise that his
Majesty is losing a source of profit so extensive and
lucrative; and I am persuaded that if full knowl-
edge of them could have reached the officials who
might have authority to examine the subject, they
would have taken suitable measures to secure this
benefit - although it is certain that it would not be
considered that no one hitherto has attained it [*.*.,
such knowledge] except that which is here ex-
1 7 28-i 7 59] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 265
plained by myself, which is the simple truth. And
as for what concerns my part, I can serve, if de-
sirable, in carrying out a work so national and so
advantageous to his Majesty -in which honor and
fame spur me to place myself at the disposal of his
Majesty, without causing him the expenditure of
one real of silver; for, thanks to God, I have the
means for travel. Nevertheless, I shall never weary
in the acquisition of the precious treasures of honor
and truth; for God only knows the exceeding satis-
faction which I feel in being the first and only per-
son who has had the good fortune to furnish this
information, so clear and plain that, if it were pub-
lished to the world, I am sure that the rest of the
nations would conspire against me; for they know
its great usefulness, and the little difficulty which I
would find in carrying out the plan.
I have been assured that the clove is found in
Mindanao. I have made every possible effort to in-
vestigate this, and I believe that it is certainly so,
although I cannot assert more than what experience
has taught me. But I can affirm with more certainty
that the nutmeg grows there, and needs only to be
cultivated ; also pepper of the best quality, and most
delicious, can be had in abundance. At present the
only thing left for us is to reflect upon the many
advantages and incredible benefits which will accrue
to his Majesty, and to his dominions and vassals,
both Spaniards and Indians, without costing him a
real vellon to establish this commerce. The English
and Dutch, on the other hand, will spend millions
to prevent the success of this great project, for which
reason it is evidently necessary to maintain the ut-
most secrecy regarding it.
266 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Recapitulation of the advantages and benefits
of this commerce
First: The millions of pesos duros which now-
pass out of the domains of his Majesty, with which
the Dutch are enriching themselves and promoting
their main commerce, that of the cinnamon; they
will have so much less for hostilities against Espana,
the more that this matter of the cinnamon is pushed
in that country, thus rendering it impossible for
them to carry away the silver thence.
Second: Great numbers of Indians would be em-
ployed who now have no way in which to make a
living or to pay their tributes; by this means not
only would they be relieved [from their burdens],
but it would be with great increase to the royal ex-
chequer; and through their application and gains
they would consequently be more faithful and con-
stant vassals, while now idleness and vices prevent
them from being such.
Third: The Philipinas Islands are suffering se-
verely from the lack of communication by a direct
route with Espana; this could be easily secured by
arming the ships there, which need from Espana
more people than a few officers; and it would be
very desirable to transport for those islands some
artisans whom they will need for promoting and
cultivating the various products of the land.
Fourth: The more that the lands are cultivated
and their products made available, the greater will
be the number of men and of infidel Indians that
will be needed; and consequently they will submit
[to Spanish authority], and be converted into loyal
vassals and friends, and Christianity will be in-
1 7 28-i 759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 267
creased in those regions, without any fear that the
Moro and infidel enemies can disturb them.
Fifth: It will be possible to equip every year
three or four ships of six hundred to a thousand
toneladas each, and despatch them for Europa with
cinnamon, pepper, and other spices which will be
produced there; and in return they will go back
with various commodities and fruits, the products
of Espafia, which the people of Manila always find
themselves compelled to buy from the English and
Dutch, carrying away the money for them. In this
manner not only will these gains remain within the
dominions of his Majesty, without the other nations
being able to draw thence the money with which
they carry on war, [to the] injury of the commerce
of Espafia, but by this means the [Spanish] domin-
ions that are so remote will come to be to a large
extent dependent one upon another; and as the inter-
course between them would be mutual and friendly,
the Indians consequently would have occasion to see
and experience the greatness [of the Spanish power].
Thus they would come to be more faithful and loyal
vassals, and returning to their own lands, would in-
fluence their countrymen to be the same.
Sixth: No one will deny my statement that the
cinnamon would [thus] be obtained at a much less
cost [by the Spaniards] than that at which the Dutch
can sell it, unless [they encounter] less risk and dan-
ger- [which are] so manifest that for the preserva-
tion of this commerce they find themselves compelled
to maintain a great number of troops and keep up
many forts and garrisons, solely to defend them-
selves. Let to all this be added the governors, and
the enormous number of people whom they have in
268 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
their service, with some very large expenses which
arise from the various opinions of the companies -
the costs of which, so ill applied, render the cinna-
mon more expensive (although in reality its cost is
low) , and it is certain that their commerce in spices
does not prove to be so profitable as the nations
assert. Very differently, then, will it be in favor of
Espafia when she reaches the cultivation of the cin-
namon ; for in place of the great expenses which his
Majesty has had ever since he took possession of the
said island, without its producing any benefit, he
will obtain the greatest advantages without spending
a real vellon more than at present. Especially, labor
will be found as cheap, and the cultivation of the
soil as easy, as in Ceylon ; and the navigation can be
made with the same advantages that [other] nations
[possess], or even greater. For this reason the cin-
namon will cost the merchants forty or fifty per cent
less than they have actually paid hitherto. It is cer-
tain that it is a very serious damage which Espafia
generally suffers in her commerce, from paying,
through this negligence, the freight charges of the
Dutch ships, and the cost of their officers and sea-
men; and they even maintain their fortifications,
etc., with the money which they obtain from Espafia
for this product of cinnamon.
Seventh: Likewise, there would be great advan-
tage to Espafia in the ships which would come from
the Philipinas, as I have said (in the fifth point) ;
for they would return laden with many fruits and
products of these kingdoms of Espafia.
Eighth: The Americans would likewise share in
this great benefit; for the cinnamon, for which they
are today paying so exorbitant a price, they would
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 269
obtain at very nearly the same price at which it is
usually sold in Cadiz.
Ninth: If the cinnamon should become cheap,
much chocolate would be consumed by the poor;
and consequently the duties would amount to much
more, to the advantage of his Majesty.
Notwithstanding that the greatness of the enter-
prise is clearly demonstrated, and no additional
information is needed, two things ought to be noted.
First, that no damage or expense can result to his
Majesty. Second, that from this arrangement, it is
evident and positive, not the least injury or disad-
vantage ensues to Espana or to America; rather, it
is a triple benefit, and indispensable - which, [how-
ever,] without general experience and practical
knowledge it would be impossible to bring about
without each dominion injuring the other; for in
this consists the superiority of a man who is an ex-
pert.
[The writer then proceeds to mention the spirit-
ual advantages which would result from the tem-
poral; but his argument becomes somewhat lame
here, reducing itself to the "hope that, with the help
of our Lord, a firm and permanent peace with the
Moros may be secured." He makes an interesting
statement regarding the extent of the ravages com-
mitted by the Mindanao pirates: "I am certain,
from accurate information, that during the govern-
ment of the Marques de Obando he cost the king
eight millions of reals vellon [for this purpose],
although he proceeded with the utmost economy and
care in the manner in which he used the royal reve-
nue; and, having made in the year 1755 a calcula-
tion of the expenses which these piracies were
270 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
causing to his Majesty and his vassals (both Span-
iards and Indians) from the ravages made by the
Moros and infidels during the eight years preceding,
it amounted to about eighty millions of reals vellon,"
not to mention the killing of priests and native
Christians. Of course, if peace is secured with the
Moros, the progress and extension of the missions in
the islands is assured. The writer again declares his
devotion to the service of God and the king, his
readiness to explain his plans further to those who
desire more information, and his confidence that
they will command the confidence of men of under-
standing, judgment, and patriotism.]
Although through experience (tempus edrax
rerum) one can come to know the utility and advan-
tage which will accrue from the execution of this
so vast enterprise, I trust that I have demonstrated
it quite sufficiently to render it worthy of the con-
sideration of his Majesty; nevertheless, seeing how
much is involved, it is fitting for my honor to fur-
nish proofs, the most detailed and circumstantial.
This induces me to quote part of the lading which
came in seventeen ships of the Company of Olanda,
as published in the Gazette of Amsterdam, dated
on July 3 of this present year, one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-nine - products which are and
may be those of the very islands in question; and
in order to show how very important it is to give
attention to what is herein proposed, each commod-
ity is valued at the regular price which it can bring
in the ports of Cadiz, Alicante, etc.
1728-1759]
COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS
271
Prices
Reals vellon
Total,
Libras
[Commodities] per libra
reals vellon
4,672,746
of pepper
7
32,709,222
50,000
of nutmeg
39
1,950,000
60,000
of mace
70
4,200,000
360,000
of cloves
5o
18,000,000
375i84<>
of cinnamon
58
21,198,720
3,000
of candied nutmeg
60
1 80,000
2,39B
of candied cloves
70
167,860
883,142
of sugar
3.9471
[3,424,000]
40,490
of camphor
16
649,840
6,582
of benzoin
22
134,936
10,500
of borax
15
157,500
12,146
of gum-lac
12
H5,7S2
3,000
of gum myrrh
12
36,000
3,514
of gamboge
16
56,224
20,049
of indigo, superior
30
601,470
[Total,] eighty-three millions, six 83,611,524
hundred and eleven thousand,
five hundred and twenty-four
reals vellon.
I have taken into consideration the objections
which may be brought forward by persons who are
little acquainted with trade, and these are reduced,
substantially, to the following: That the consump-
tion of these commodities in the dominions of his
Majesty cannot be regulated by the above calculation.
71 There is some confusion or error in these figures, which read,
in the MS., "35 = 3.94 @ 2,82 : 600." Without them, the totals
amount to 80,187,524; subtracting this from the entire total,
there remains a balance of 3,424,000, apparently indicating the
value of the sugar - save that the total for benzoin is erroneously
figured in the MS.; it should be 144,804. The MS. is also
uncertain on some of the other totals.
272 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
They speak glibly; but, in order not to lose time with
these persons, I answer them, that one is compelled
to encounter ignorance, but the only concern of great
souls is to serve faithfully their kings and nations,
and endure the calumnies which are uttered against
honest men - imitating the stars, which, no matter
how much the dogs bark, do not cease to shine down
upon them and to follow their own courses. Accord-
ingly, let us proceed to truths which are plain:
First: that the Dutch carry these commodities in
large quantities, as is above stated - a proof that there
is a consumption for that amount, and that this is
a profitable trade. Second: that the calculation
which I have made cannot be defective, since the
[amounts of the] commodities agree with the figures
published by the Dutch themselves; and the prices
are obtained from the Company of Druggists, in
accordance with what they pay for the goods at the
ports. Third: that the greater part [of these com-
modities], and the most important ones, if not [all],
can be the products of the Philipinas Islands.
Fourth : that these commodities must cost much less
than in Olanda, or in any other country, is manifest
and undeniable for this reason, that the Dutch are
obliged to incur enormous expenses - for governors,
members of council, lesser servants without num-
ber, and many troops -in order to maintain their
establishments; and these expenses increase just so
much the prices of their spices, so that, if they buy
these from the [Eastern] nations at ten, the goods
are worth to them twenty-five. This would not occur
with us, because the king does not need to increase
the expenses in order to secure the advancement of
the islands. It would be entirely different; for, if
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 273
these plantations are established, thousands of
Indians who now are suffering the utmost poverty
without having any opportunity to work, and for the
same reason cannot pay their tributes, would have a
means of gaining their living and of paying their
tributes, and on this very account it would serve
much for the increase of the royal revenue.
As these Indians are not paid for their labor at
higher rates than are those among whom the Dutch
reside, we must reckon, for the reasons here stated,
that those same commodities would cost much less,
and that the Spaniards could sell them at lower prices
than do the Dutch; and, as the merchant in every
country buys where he will find his greatest advan-
tage, Espana would be the fair for these commodi-
ties which have already enriched so many nations.
But let us proceed to reveal the cunning of the Dutch,
who furnish only three millions, seven hundred and
fifty thousand, eight hundred and forty libras of cin-
namon-which, at the rate of sixteen onzas a libra,
make six 72 millions, thirteen thousand, four hundred
and forty onzas. The rule for making chocolate is
to take ten libras of cacao, ten of sugar, and eight
onzas of cinnamon, or even less, and on account of
the waste73 it is computed that the result will be
72 The writer (or more probably his amanuensis) has made
an error in transcribing these sums; "six millions" should read
"sixty millions," and at the end of the paragraph the amount of
chocolate should be "one hundred and fifty" instead of "fifteen"
millions. The remaining figures are correct.
73 "In 1618, according to the testimony of Dr. Marradon, of
Marchena, to one hundred cacao-beans must be added a pound and
a half of sugar, two onzas of cinnamon, fourteen grains of Mexi-
can pepper, a half-onza of cloves, and two reals' weight of anise
and annotto; and one might add almonds, nuts, and orange-flower
water. Years afterward Dr. Colmenero of Ledesma modified this
274 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
twenty libras net; consequently, from the three mil-
lions, seven hundred and fifty thousand, eight hun-
dred and forty libras of cinnamon could be made
formula, making the paste in the proportion of one hundred cacao-
beans, one-half libra of sugar, two granos of pepper, anise, cloves,
Alexandrian [i.e., white] roses, logwood, cinnamon, almonds, nuts,
and a sufficient quantity of annotto to give it color."
Until the end of the eighteenth century chocolate was prepared
mainly by hand-labor. "In the seventeenth century, the prepara-
tion of the chocolate was made by artisans, who received twelve
reals and an azumbre [i.e., about half a gallon] of wine for pre-
paring each day the portion of chocolate from sixteen libras of
clear cacao. The chocolate, thus prepared and sold under the
name of 'health chocolate,' often contained special ingredients,
chosen on account of the fashion, or of the taste of the consumers ;
and if in those times great praise was given to the chocolate which
contained aromatic essences - vanilla, amber, and orange — cer-
tainly not less famous on that account was the chocolate of Ma-
drid with its doradilla [i.e., ceterach], that of Avila with its
pimenton [i.e., a large variety of pepper], and that of Pamplona
with its pepper and ginger. Fray Manuel Ordonez says, refer-
ring to the paste which we are considering, that 'in the past cen-
tury it was sold only in the apothecary shops, like physicians'
prescriptions, for our cure;' and from this citation we may infer
not only that chocolate was regarded as a special medicine, but
that it was considered as a therapeutic agent, worthy of being kept
by the pharmacists of the seventeenth century. Later, in the
eighteenth century, the preparation of chocolate began to be made
by the guild of spice-dealers, its ingredients being reduced to the
cacao, cinnamon or vanilla, and sugar; and the custom became
somewhat general of adding to the paste some biscuit-dough, in
order to make it thicker when it was diluted with water. At the
same time when the 'health chocolate' was sold in the spice-shops,
a medicinal chocolate was prepared in the apothecary shops, in
which the principal products of the pharmacopeia entered as in-
gredients. As the preparation of chocolate had become general in
the convents, in attempting to compete with the spice-dealers the
friars did not think of making it of better quality; but, in order
to sell it more cheaply, they subtracted from cacao and cinnamon
what they added in ingredients that were not always harmless for
the parishioner's health. In order that the importance of this
adulteration may be estimated, it is sufficient to cite some of the
additions most used, as wheat flour, rice flour; ground lentils,
peas, beans, and maize; starch, potato starch, and dextrine; olive
oil, sweet almond oil, yolk of egg, tallow of veal and mutton;
storax, chestnut [flour], gum tragacanth; cinnabar, red oxide of
mercury, red lead, carbonate of lime, etc." The manufacture of
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 275
fifteen millions, thirty-three thousand, six hundred
libras of chocolate.
Although it is folly to make such a proposition, I
ask whether there are not in Espana,74 all America,
chocolate has been conducted almost entirely by machinery during
the past century, and has accordingly thrown out the majority of
the artisans who made it by hand. (Jose del Carmenal, cited in
Grafenberg's Spanisches Lesebuch, Frankfurt, 1899, pp. 7-1 1.)
74 At the end of the atlas volume in Raynal's Etablissemens et
commerce des Europeens is a tabular "Enumeration of the pop-
ulation of Spain, prepared in 1768 by order of his Lordship Conde
de Aranda, president of the Council of Castilla." The popu-
lation is given separately for each of the eight archbishoprics
(which contain 48 bishoprics, 2 of them "exempt"). The lay
population was thus classed: married persons, 1,724,567 men and
1,714,505 women; unmarried (presumably including children),
2,809,069 boys and 2,911,858 girls; total, 9,159,999- Add the
number of the clergy (both regular and secular), which was
147,805, and the entire population numbered 9,307,804. Two
curious discrepancies may be noted: the number of married men
is greater than that of the married women by 10,062, and the
girls exceed the boys by 102,789 (this latter an excess of about
3^3 per cent). The only region in which the number of married
men is practically the same as that of married women is the arch-
diocese of Valencia, and the only one where the same thing is
true of the boys and girls is the archdiocese of Zaragoza. The
greatest discrepancy in the numbers of both these classes is found
in the archdiocese of Burgos, where there were 197,064 married
men, and only 185,997 married women; and it had 330,428 girls
and only 310,545 boys. Highly significant is the enumeration of
the privileged classes, of whom in the total population there were
846,657, thus classified: those enjoying royal privileges, 89,393;
in the department of finances, 27,577; in that of the Crusade,
4,248 ; in that of the Inquisition, 2,645 > m the nobility, 722,794.
It is to be observed that three-fourths of all the privileged class
are found in the archdiocese of Burgos and the two exempt bish-
oprics - in the former, 324,661 ; in the latter, 306,378. Not
less interesting are the statistics of the ecclesiastical estate. In
the 16,427 cities and villages were 18,106 parishes, which were
served by 15,641 curas. There were 2,004 monasteries, contain-
ing 55)453 religious; and 1,026 convents with 26,465 nuns. All
these religious orders employed also 8,552 persons as procurators
and treasurers, and with the orders were affiliated 26,294 laymen.
In the service of the churches were 25,248 laymen; and besides the
curas there were 50,246 chaplains and beneficed priests. The total
of all these items is 147,805, the number above given.
276 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the Philipinas Islands, and, in short, all the so vari-
ous domains of his Majesty, counting all these
together, four millions of persons who drink choco-
late sixty-four times in the year, in accordance with
the rule of one onza for each time. Even the most
ignorant or malicious person will not deny my propo-
sition; this makes, then, the consumption of choco-
late sixteen millions of libras, and for making it there
will be needed four hundred thousand libras of cin-
namon.
Hence are drawn two conclusions. One is, the
extreme craftiness of the Dutch, in not furnishing
more than the said quantity in order to supply the
Spaniards, and in making them believe that they
will be left without chocolate; and thus they suc-
ceed in obliging the Spaniards to pay for the cinna-
mon at the very high prices which the Dutch have
fixed in these recent years - for it is a hundred per
cent more costly, and fifty per cent worse in quality;
therefore there is an increase of a hundred and fifty
per cent in favor of the Dutch, and of three hundred
per cent to the injury of Espana, who without reason
endures this tyranny. Therefore, if the Dutch are
not mistaken in the estimate of cinnamon which they
published in the Gazette, and as the consumption [of
that spice] in Espana is as I have made evident, there
will not be cinnamon to supply all the nations;
nevertheless, there will be no lack of it in any of
them.75
Second: since it is so evident that in the domin-
ions of his Majesty there is consumed in [the bever-
75 A literal translation of the text; but there seems to be
some omission or confusion in the statement. Possibly the writer
intended to make it contingent on the success of his project for
making cinnamon plantations.
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 277
age of] chocolate alone (without counting the nu-
merous kinds of food in which use is made of it) six-
teen millions of libras, and in order to make it there
are needed four hundred thousand of cinnamon, at
the rate of fifty-eight reals vellon that quantity will
cost twenty-three millions, three hundred thousand
reals vellon, which is the least that Espafta could
advance for the execution of the project. Moreover,
I do not know any reason for not admitting the com-
modity of pepper - which not only is so exceedingly
abundant in the islands, but I persuade myself that,
since it is so excellent in its crude state, it would with
skilful treatment be better than that of any [other]
country. It is also plain to us that the Dutch bring
[to Europa] four millions, six hundred and seventy-
two thousand, seven hundred and forty-six libras of
it; they assure me that only because of the great
abundance of garlic76 in Espafta the pepper brings no
more than seven reals vellon a libra - [at which rate]
the above quantity will amount to thirty-two millions,
seven [hundred] and nine thousand, two hundred
and twenty-two reals vellon. This added to the
twenty-three millions, three hundred thousand reals
[for cinnamon] will make fifty-six millions, nine
thousand, two hundred and twenty-two reals vellon.
People will say, " Where would we consume so
much pepper?" Then where does Olanda consume
it, I would like to know? "[And there are] Fran-
cia and Inglaterra; do they bring much less [to
Europa]?" Do not those who ask such questions
76 In the text, aljoresesite ; there is no such word in the
lexicons, and it probably is an error (perhaps of an amanuensis)
for ajo aceite, the name of a pungent preparation of garlic, oil,
etc., which is used in the southern countries of Europe as a
condiment.
27 ^ THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
know how much the king is paying to Norbega \_Le.,
Norway] and the northern countries for lumber,
cordage, etc., for the construction in his royal navy?
and that, if it happens that care is not given in time
to the planting of oak groves, he will need much
more [from those countries] ? At present these com-
modities are paid for in ready money, which would
not be the case if we could give the merchants there
the pepper, etc., so cheaply (or at less expense than
[if purchased from] another country) , on account of
the great consumption of pepper which there is in
those countries, and because this would be a [form
of] trade that is mutually advantageous, as I have
already said, for the day-laborer and the shepherd.
It would be permanent, and many millions of reals
which now leave Espana would remain here, to the
greatest advantage not only of his Majesty, but of
his vassals. I say, then, that no one is able to deny
these two propositions, of which his Majesty will be
best able to judge. Have I heard some one argue
that Espana has" need of preventing thus the expor-
tation of silver? Such arguments are foolish, and
one should laugh at them.
Do we not know that Olanda commands that a
very large part of the spice product be burned and
destroyed, in order that a commodity which brings
her so enormous a profit should not, through its ex-
cessive abundance, contribute to her loss? I say, then,
that if Espana reaches an excessive abundance of
silver, it would be far better for the king to command
that the mines be closed, or to fling the silver into the
sea, than to let it pass into the hands of those who
77 Thus in original, but the context would indicate that "no"
was omitted here.
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 279
tomorrow can avail themselves of it to carry on war
[against Espafia]. Others I have heard talk [on
this subject], so frivolously that I was astounded,
hinting at the resentment of this other nation if Es-
pafia should profit by what is her own - that is, the
execution of the proposition [that I have made].
That is the same as to say that Inglaterra or any other
nation could declare that Espafia shall not cultivate
the ground or sow the wheat, because it suited that
nation to supply it; it is to talk very heedlessly, with-
out knowing that Espafia can limit the commerce of
Francia, Inglaterra, and Olanda whenever she de-
sires, without cannon-ball or gunpowder, by the pro-
hibition of silver alone. If she chooses to deprive
any one of those countries of this advantage, she has
only to calculate what she owes to the other two for
the net balance of their trade, and then not allow any
more silver to go out to those countries; and these,
needing it for themselves, will not be able to supply
the other one. I can assert that Espafia, if she would
avail herself of the rights which God has given her,
would make herself more worthy of respect by de-
priving the [other] nations of what is essential, not
only for their commerce, but for waging war to ad-
vantage.
I believe that no one will dispute the advantages
and benefit which can accrue from the Philipinas
Islands, and it is this which from the outset I have
attempted to demonstrate, although I omit, for the
sake of brevity, the explanation of many things.
Keeping in mind how much I owe to the infinite
mercy and goodness of supreme Providence, in the
second part of the work alluded to, which I presume
to present to his Majesty, I have treated at length
28 O THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
of the ravages which the Moros have committed
during very many years in those islands, and of the
exceeding damage which they thus cause to our holy
Roman Catholic and apostolic faith, for I cannot
do less. Indeed, it is evident that God has assisted
me with His divine Grace ; and therefore I certainly
ought to defend and, if it should be necessary, die
for His cause. Accordingly, in whatever concerns
the subjection of the Moros, and consequently the
protection and advancement of the holy faith in those
islands, I hope to deserve that his Majesty will do me
the honor of appointing six lieutenant-commanders
- three from his royal navy, and three from his army
- in order that they may examine with the utmost
care the plan upon which I have based my proposi-
tion, giving their opinions in writing for presenta-
tion to his Majesty, in two copies, one for his
Majesty's royal Council of the Indias, the other for
myself.
When this examination shall be made, and the plan
approved by the king if such be his royal will, I will
immediately proceed to furnish the plan of the whole
matter which I have drawn up for the execution of
the project- from which, after further investigations
(which are very just, and perhaps will be quite
unprecedented) his Majesty can more easily decide
what shall be most expedient in this matter, as also
the selection of persons for the said purpose.
As for what pertains to the commerce, for greater
certainty I deemed it expedient to communicate my
intention to Don Antonio Butlert [«c], formerly
a merchant of Cadiz -since he is distinguished not
only for his great success in business and his genuine
friendship to this nation, but by his long experience
in and thorough knowledge of the commerce of these
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 28 1
dominions - asking him to give me his disinterested
opinion on the subject, in which he should consider
with the utmost attention the general welfare of these
dominions ; and this opinion I have, in writing, and
signed with the name of his firm, which reads "But-
lert and Matheos."
Some persons who are little acquainted with affairs
so vast, and who have still less ability to make ready
for the great things which remain to be done, will
suppose that the execution [of this plan] is easy, to
one who has the writings which I have already fur-
nished; nevertheless, if they engaged in the under-
taking they would find themselves much mistaken,
and the result would be greatly to the detriment of
the nation.
Warned by what I have passed through, and
dreading [the effects of] ignorance and malice, I
have reached the decision to supplicate the king to
grant me the honor of this examination - desiring,
whatever may fall to my lot, to prove that I have no
other purpose than to serve faithfully both Majes-
ties and their vassals, and entreating them for this
end to dispose of my life and person, of which I will
gladly make sacrifice in proof of my loyalty and
sincere devotion.
Extracts from the proposition of Don Nicolas Nor-
ton Nicols; the conditions which he requires; the
benefits and advantages which will accrue to his
Majesty and his vassals, on whose account his
Majesty was pleased to issue a decree on the
twenty-third of February last.
The aim of the said proponent is, to establish in
the Philipinas Islands plantations of cinnamon,
pepper, other spices, etc., and to open a direct com-
282 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
merce between the said islands and Cadiz, by way
of the Cape of Good Hope.
Conditions -That he shall be permitted to under-
take the said route from Cadiz, or may go to the said
islands and make the voyage from there to Cadiz,
as he shall find most convenient. If he shall set
out from Cadiz, on account of not having time to
build ships he shall be permitted to buy whatever
vessels [he may need], without excepting those of
foreigners. The cargo from Cadiz must consist of
different fruits, liquids,78 and commodities that are
products of Espafia and of her commerce, as on the
return voyage it must be from the various products
and commodities of the said islands and of their
commerce. That his Majesty remit the duties for
the first voyage, and that the proponent be permitted
to embark freely at Cadiz the silver that he needs to
defray the purchase of his return cargo. On the
second voyage he shall pay at Cadiz not only the five
per cent duties but the three per cent of the silver
which he shall thereafter embark, as is done with the
[traders of foreign] nations. In order to obviate any
objection, he will not enter any port belonging to his
Majesty or to any power of Europa; he shall, how-
ever, be permitted to enter and anchor at any one
of the Indian ports, whether in these or in those seas,
and therein buy, sell, exchange, or lade the goods
which shall be offered to him.
The advantages, etc., will be the following: His
Majesty will not subject his royal revenue to any
expense, nor will it be exposed to the evil designs of
men, or to the doubtful patriots who pretend to
78 Spanish, caldos : a term applied to the wine, oil, and brandy
that are transported by sea (Dominguez).
1728-1759] COMMERCE OF PHILIPINAS 283
have knowledge. There is no treaty that can be set
against him, as he can prove. By the most moder-
ate computation, the Dutch annually export four
millions of pesos for the spice-trade ; this, therefore,
is to make them powerful, to the injury of Espafia.
Norvega, St. Petersbourgh, and other countries
demand a great amount of cash for lumber, pitch,
cordage, sails, etc., for the royal shipbuilding, the
greater part of which would be paid for in spices,
as these are greatly liked in those countries. Equiva-
lent injury to Espana, as is stated above.79 The com-
modities and products of Espana would have a much
larger market. A strong stimulus to the cultivation
of the soil. His Majesty would experience much
relief in the expenses of transportation for the mis-
sions. This navigation would serve as a nursery for
the navy, as is found by experience in other countries.
The direct communication would serve as a check
on a thousand abuses, not only in the government of
the islands, but in other matters. If his Majesty
should grant this privilege to the said islands, it
would be most just that the commonwealth of Manila
should carry on its commerce with Acapulco at its
own cost, without laying the burden of it on his Maj-
esty. By not possessing this commerce when she can
have it, Espana is maintaining thousands of stran-
gers in place of a like number of her own vassals;
[the latter would] redound to the increase of the
royal revenue, and in the course of years to the propa-
gation of the holy faith. The Moros, who now are
by their wars destroying the felicitous progress of
79 The somewhat fragmentary nature of these statements in-
dicates the probability that they are but memoranda, and the
whole MS. a rough draft, which was to be presented to the king
in revised and improved form.
284 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
the Christian religion, when they found by experi-
ence how much more it suited their own interests to
maintain peace and commerce with the Spaniards
than to wage war against them, would inviolably ob-
serve their treaties; for, notwithstanding the cruel-
ties which the Dutch practice against their Indians,
the latter tolerate them on account of the advantages
of their commerce. The people of Manila will,
when they have a market for their products, cultivate
the land; they will establish family estates, and
enrich themselves; and their riches, like those of
the Americans, will finally come to Espafia. The
duties which your Majesty would receive from this
new commerce would in a very few years amount to
very considerable sums. It would be a stimulus to
other new commercial undertakings, which would
be beneficial to his Majesty and his vassals.
The whole matter in small compass
His Majesty, without risking anything, is going
to gain infinitely more than what has been [here]
stated. The method of securing these vast benefits
is the easiest and safest which can be put into prac-
tice, and itself makes plain the useful and salutary
design of the proponent.
Don Nicolas Norton Nicols
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA
The documents in this volume are obtained from
the following sources :
i. Santa Misericordia- From Mani fiesta y resu-
men historico de la fundacion de la venerable her-
mandad de la Santa Misericordia (Manila, 1728),
by Juan Bautista de Uriarte; from a copy in the
possession of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago.
2. Survey of the Philipinas.- From a MS. in the
Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid -press-
mark, "24-4V 1.735;" various plans in it are here
reproduced.
3. Order of St. John- From Religiosa hospitali-
dad por los hijos del . S. Ivan de Dios en
Philipinas (Granada, 1742) ; from a copy in the
possession of Edward E. Ayer.
4. Letter to president of Council — A copy, fur-
nished by Sr. D. Roman Murillo, Madrid, of the
original MS., which he, as librarian of the Academia
Espanola, Madrid, found among other papers there-
in, this being the only one relating to the Philippines.
5. Letter by a Jesuit.- From Ventura del Arco
MSS. (Ayer library), iv, pp. 297-305.
6. Commerce of the Philipinas.— From a MS.,
either the original rough draft or a contemporaneous
copy, in the possession of Edward E. Ayer.
286 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
7. Relation of the Zambals.- From a certified
copy -procured for us by Sr. D. Manuel de Yriarte,
chief of Division of Archives at Manila -of the
original MS., which is preserved in the archives of
the convent of Santo Domingo in Manila.
APPENDIX: RELATION OF THE
ZAMBALS
By Domingo Perez, O.P. MS. dated 1680.
Source: A certified copy of the original MS., which is pre-
served in the archives of the convent of Santo Domingo, Manila.
Translation : This is made by James Alexander Robertson.
RELATION OF THE ZAMBALS
RELATION OF THE ZAMBAL80 INDIANS OF PLAYA
HONDA, THEIR SITUATION AND CUSTOMS. BY
FATHER FRAY DOMINGO PEREZ, OF THE
ORDER OF PREACHERS AND VICAR-PRO-
VINCIAL OF THE RELIGIOUS WHO
ASSIST IN THE SAID MISSION.
YEAR OF l68o81
The very reverend father, Fray Baltazar de Santa
Cruz, prior-provincial of this province of Santo
80 Wm. Reed {Negritos of Zambales) says, (p. 27) : "Every-
thing in the history of the Zambal people and their present com-
parative unimportance goes to show that they were the most
indolent and backward of the Malayan peoples. While they
have never given the governing powers much trouble, yet they
have not kept pace with the agricultural and commercial progress
of the other people, and their territory has been so steadily en-
croached on from all sides by their more aggressive neighbors
that their separate identity is seriously threatened. The rich
valleys of Zambales have long attracted Ilokano immigrants,
who have founded several important towns. The Zambals them-
selves, owing to lack of communication between their towns, have
developed their separate dialects. . . . [but] Zambal as
a distinct dialect is gradually disappearing." "The Zambals,
however, lived in so close contact with the Negritos that they
impressed their language on them so thoroughly, that no trace of
the dialect of the latter people remains in Zambales" (p. 28).
As pointed out in a recent communication from James A. Le-
Roy, the Zambals were mountaineers, kin to the Igorot of today,
and of Malay origin. They probably formed a portion of a
very early migratory movement from the south who were pushed
back into the hills. They must not be confused with the Negri-
tos, who are not Malayan. The Malayan origin of the Zam-
bals can be easily seen from Perez's description.
81 Fray Vicente Salazar in his Historia, chapter xxx, pp. 134-
290 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Rossario of the Order of Preachers in these Phili-
pinas Islands, having visited the villages (which we
have today united and their inhabitants reduced to
the said villages) and us two ministers who for the
space of nine months have been busied in the reduc-
tion of said Indians, said reverend father provincial
ordered me to write a treatise on the site whence we
have drawn the Indians whom we have reduced,
their customs, and mode of living.
In order that the evangelical ministers who have
to work in this mission may be able more clearly to
direct those souls redeemed by the blood of our Lord
Christ along the true pathway of heaven from which
they have strayed so far for so many years blinded
with the darkness of infidelity and idolatry; also in
order that this paper may be used so that the minis-
ters of justice of the king, our sovereign, may sub-
ject said Indians and establish them under the
obedience of his Catholic Majesty: although it is
true that for more than sixty years they had ministers
of the gospel, neither said ministers nor his Majesty
have been able to succeed in getting them to live in a
settlement so that they may be administered or have
justice as today it is hoped that they will be. The
most that it has been possible to obtain with them was
that distinct bands of them should unite on various
occasions in the mountain on the plateau where the
ministers had a house and church. But they imme-
138 ("Description of the province of Zambales, and the genius,
customs, and ceremonies of its Indians") makes use of this docu-
ment by Perez, which he greatly condenses. Indeed, it forms his
sole authority on the Zambals. In the two following chapters
("Fruit of the preaching of our religious in the changing of the
customs of the Zambals;" and "Of some miracles which our Lord
worked in this mission and reduction of the Zambals") also he
uses considerable of the material of Perez.
1 728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 29 1
diately broke up again, said division occasioning the
wars which those Indians generally wage among
their different bands, and the alcaldes-mayor were
unable to punish the guilty and ungovernable be-
cause of the greater distance from the chief cities
where the alcaldes-mayor live to these places, and
because the coast of the sea is so rough during all the
time of the vendavals and south winds, that it is im-
possible to navigate along it, while the road overland
is so rough and blocked by mountains full of black
enemies (those mountains being very rough in parts) ,
and in the ravines there are very great rivers with
very strong currents, so that in the rainy season one
can have no communication from this place, with
Pangasinan, or with Mariueles, or with Pampanga;
and during the dry season these Indians are gener-
ally with the blacks in the mountains trading wax:
consequently, they have never been obedient to the
alcaldes-mayor, and hence, neither to his Majesty nor
to the gospel ministers whom they have hitherto had.
Although they have had ministers of great virtue and
most ardent zeal for souls, as can be seen in the an-
nals of their sacred order and even today, there are
ex-provincials who have been their ministers whose
signal virtues are apparent to all the community.
Of the site and district of Playa Honda
Playa Honda begins at the doors of Mariueles and
extends along the mountains which border Pam-
panga to the point of Sunga and near Pangasinan,
which is distant more than forty leguas from Ma-
riueles to the visita of the Christian Baga Indians
who are administered by the minister of Mariueles.
They perform their duties toward the Church every
29 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
year, notwithstanding that they show very many im-
perfections, a fact which is not surprising, since the
minister cannot be with them all the time that
he would like, as the coast is inaccessible all the time
of the vendavals. During that time they must neces-
sarily live without a minister to instruct them. That
visita has thirty tributes. Although they have a vil-
lage laid out with its church and house for the minis-
ter, they do not live in the said village except when
the minister goes to visit them. They live in their
rancherias whence they get molave wood in abund-
ance. They have sufficient fields in said village for
all, and for twice as many more if they cared to culti-
vate them, but they apply themselves more earnestly
in cutting said timber than in farming their fields.
They get considerable help for [cutting] said wood
from the blacks of the mountain, for those blacks are
excellent woodsmen. All those blacks are tributary
and pay twelve reals annually for their tribute. The
tribute is managed by the Indians, and the encomen-
dero does not meddle with them in the collection of
the tribute from the blacks, but the Indians pay the
said tribute for the blacks. Hence the black serves
the Indian all the year, without the black having
other profit at the end of the year than his tribute
paid. This is the reason why the village is continu-
ally without people, because the Indians, on account
of the profit from the work of the blacks, go to live
with the blacks, or near the pass of the mountain,
where said blacks live, in order to assist them in the
work, for the blacks unless assisted physically do not
work. Four leguas from this visita toward the north
is another visita called Mariyumo, administered also
by the said father minister of Mariueles. Its people
1 7 28-i 7 59] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 293
are Christians, although very bad ones, and seriously
lacking in the faith, and have very many imper-
fections. They have very many superstitions and
are much given to omens. Not all of them are very
fit to receive the annual communion. They also have
a village laid out and a church and house for the
minister. However, they do not live in the said vil-
lage, but in their rancherias, much divided among
themselves as are those of Baga; although they are
not such absolute masters of the blacks as are those
of Vaga, they also have blacks under trust on which
account they receive many vexations from the en-
comendero, for it is the regular thing for them to pay
the tribute for the blacks. The latter are more free
than the blacks of Vaga, for they have more land
where they can spread out, which those of Vaga do
not have. Those Indians also possess considerable
molave timber, but they are lazier than the Indians
of Vaga. Consequently, there is no one to cut the
wood unless the corregidor of the island who ad-
ministers justice to them, forces them to cut said
wood. It would be doing a great service to God to
unite the latter Indians with those of Baga, so that
our holy Catholic faith might be well administered
to them. They number about forty tributes, and, if
they are united with those of Vaga, they can have a
minister in residence where they will be well admin-
istered, and where they have lands sufficient for their
farming, and timber in abundance. In such case
there would not be so great a scarcity of that product
in the city of Manila.
One legua from Mariyumo begins the bay which
lies back of the mountains of Abucay and Samal,
where we commenced to get the Indians whom we
294 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
have collected in this Nuevo Toledo. The said bay
has plenty of fish. Its mouth is about one legua wide,
and is closed by a small island surrounded by many
reefs on the southern side, but on the north it is very
deep - so that any sized ship can enter even when
laden. But^the said bay has no port and lies in the
course of all the vendaval and the south winds. It
is five leguas long stretching toward the east, and as
many wide. Along all that bay, which it will take
two days to coast, were scattered twenty-two families,
who are today living in this village of Nuevo Toledo
where they have their houses and fields. Having
passed the said bay and entered the mountain, one
legua inland in the mountain, one enters a very level
and long plain. One-half legua inland in the plain
is situated the first village called Nuevo Toledo.
That plain is six leguas wide and eight long. It is
bounded on the east by some very rough mountains
which lie between the province of Pampanga and
that plain; at the foot of those mountains were the
rancherias of Balacbac, which has fourteen families;
Lacnipan which had seven; Sigle which had four-
teen more ; Aglao which had thirty-three. All those
families were scattered, so that in no rancheria did
five families live together. The sea properly called
Playa Honda bathes its western coast. On the sea-
coast were thirty-six families of very pernicious In-
dians, all of whom we collected into the village of
Santa Rossa de Banguen, where they possess their
houses and fields. Those Indians were scattered
along the creeks and carrizals82 near the sea, along
six leguas of coast and level land beyond the plain
running toward the north two leguas. At the foot of
82 Carrizal: land which is full of reed-grass.
1 7 28-1 759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 295
some very rough mountains between the sea and Bu-
quil, there were fourteen other families whom we
have also collected in said village of Santa Rossa de
Banguen, which today consists of fifty families.
That said village of Santa Rossa is six leguas from
that of Nuevo Toledo over a stretch of level land in
which there is a very great abundance of game.
Many were supported by that and had no fields and
wherever they caught the deer or carabao they stayed
there until they finished eating it. But at present
they possess their gardens in the village, and since
care is taken in this, they will not be lazy, and will
live in the village where, having their gardens and
the food from them, they will not have so great need
of the hunt. Six leguas farther on in another site
called Nalso, a plain where are stationed the presidio
and fort of Pinauen in a corner of said plain at the
foot of the mountains of Buquil, was a little village of
about forty families, which the very reverend father,
Fray Joseph de la Santisima Trinidad, ex-provincial
of his order, had collected in said district. There
were there, moreover, twelve families who had
recently descended the mountains of Buquil, whom,
since they were far from the fields, and the flight to
the mountains was very near and five families had
returned to the mountains, and there was no assur-
ance of the others if left in said site, we transferred
to the visita of Alalam, which is now composed of
eighty families. The latter place is seven leguas
from the village of Santa Rossa de Banguen. Those
who have had most difficulty have been the thirty-
three families whom we moved from the site and dis-
trict of Aglao, as they were very wild Indians, and
little or not at all softened until the present, and said
296 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
site is distant six leguas from the village of Nuevo
Toledo where we stationed it. Three leguas of the
road are very bad, and there is not a drop of water to
be found for four leguas, during all the dry season.
The road is over sandy ground which is very large
and full of rocks left by the river which flows from
the mountain of Pinatuba; and in those places where
there are no rocks, but only the sand, the road is also
very wearisome because that sand has no cohesion,
and the least wind that blows lifts the dust which
blinds the travelers and has thus cost the greatest
hardship to those of this district who take that road
in going and coming between the village and the
mountain. In the month of January of this year of
eighty, we had them all ready in the village, and I,
taking them to the mountain so that they might bring
down their possessions and rice to the village, and
each family having brought down five baskets of
rice, one-half the distance along the road, more than
half of the people fell sick, because of the great labor
which it cost them to pass the said sandy ground.
On that account I ordered them to abandon their rice
and possessions and to bring it down little by little,
and in order that they might make their gardens be-
fore the season should expire, and so that they might
finish their houses. They have already finished
them, and their gardens are at a musket-shot's dis-
tance from the village, according to the edict which
Governor Don Juan de Vargas Hurtado, knight of
the habit of Santiago, changed for them for that pur-
pose. Even in these slight things, his Lordship has
been active on account of his so great desire that the
Indians be reduced and be reasonable, if we may so
say, for as will be seen in their customs in which they
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 297
have been reared until the present, they were wan-
dering very far from nationality and civilization.
The village of Nuevo Toledo was composed of
more than one hundred families, and that of Santa
Rossa de Banguen, of fifty, in the month of January
of this year 1680. All declared themselves before
Adjutant Alonso Martinez Franco, superior com-
mandant of the fort of Paynauen. The latter, at the
evident risk of his life, and with the continual watch-
fulness and zeal of a fervent religious, without heed-
ing his own interest which he would have had if he
wished to pay no heed to the order of his superior,
and to receive the offerings of gold which the Indians
made to him so that he should not oblige them to
leave their recesses, has aided us to his own great
credit in collecting the Indians whom we have today
in the two said villages. He made lists of the people
who were in the two villages above mentioned, who
amounted to seven hundred and seventy persons.
Those people persevere even yet in the said two vil-
lages, and will persevere so long as the efforts which
are being made to reduce those who are yet intracta-
ble in the mountains, do not cease. The said adjutant
and superior commandant of the said presidio also
formed the new village of Alalam by withdrawing
its ancient inhabitants from the places where they
lived before, and brought them within a musket-shot
of their fields. They were before that one legua dis-
tant from their fields. That site has a small bay,
which the sea forms there, where there is very good
fishing, and where boats can safely enter. The said
village did not have such a bay before, in the former
site. He also made lists of the Indians whom he
brought to the said village, who are the ones of Nalso
298 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
who were located at the foot of the mountains of Bu-
quil, and those who descended said mountains. I was
not present when the said lists were made and hence
do not know the number of the persons there, but it
is evident to me that those gathered in the said vil-
lage number more than fifty families. I have seen
their houses which are already finished, and are ex-
cellent buildings, made of strong and hard materials.
Those Indians also will retain in the said village,
which is large, the horror which they have for the
Spanish arms, and more, if the raids of the Spaniards
on the Indians who still keep to the mountains are
repeated.
Of the idolatries of all those Indians
Having to treat of the idolatries, superstitions, and
customs of the Zambals, I think I ought first to men-
tion that my purpose is not to discourage the minis-
ters of the gospel, who have to plant our holy Catho-
lic faith among those Indians, but to impart to them
the brief information which I possess of the lit-
tle which I have ascertained in respect to the great
amount which there is to ascertain, and which will
be discovered with the lapse of time, concerning the
customs of that blind people, who have lived so mis-
guidedly and so far from reason at the doors of the
true evangelical light which we profess. Although
they are surrounded by provinces whose inhabitants
are excellent Christians, such as the provinces of
Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Mariueles, yet notwith-
standing they have been influenced very little or not
at all for the good by the customs of the Christians,
on account of their lack of communication with
them; for they only go to the said provinces to trade
1 7 z8-i 7 59] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 299
and traffic for a brief space of time, and then, if any-
body is careless they cut off his head. Hence, as I
have said, they have but little communication with
reasonable people. On the contrary, I think this
paper of mine will serve as a stimulus for us reli-
gious, who, leaving our convents of our fatherland
Espana and our friends and relatives, being moved
by the zeal for souls, come to these Philipinas Islands
to publish our holy Catholic faith, to preserve it, and
teach good morals. All this drags us from our
provinces in Espana, and deprives us of our father-
land. Here, then, among these miserable Zambals,
we shall find much to do. It is unnecessary to go to
seek infidels in other kingdoms, for we have them
here, although few; and at the same time we have
one to subject them for us and place them under our
obedience. I say then that this paper of mine will
serve as a stimulus to the ministers of the gospel to
come to employ themselves in the service of our
Lord and His holy Catholic faith, when they con-
sider the great evil that there is to tear out and eradi-
cate from the hearts of these Indians, and the great
good that they lack to make them Christians. And
although there are very many baptized persons
among them, yet in nothing at all are any of them
different from the others, if one considers their cus-
toms and mode of living. Those baptized are as
idolatrous as those not baptized. I am not surprised
at this, for until now the former ministers have not
had any opportunity for living in residence among
them, since they have not cared to collect them into a
settlement. And if they have collected them, it has
been for a short time only, and their evil customs
have taken them again to the mountains and recesses
3°° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
whence we have drawn them, but today according to
the efficacy which the governor of these Philipinas
Islands places in the spiritual and temporal good of
these wretched creatures, we have excellent hopes
that they will persevere in their settlements and will
be able to be taught the true pathway to heaven.
These Indians have their priests and priestesses,
although such have no jurisdiction over the others;
for here everyone is master of his own will, and they
alone recognize superiority in one in so far as he
gives authority to the other priests and priestesses for
some special sacrifices. This last is done to the one
who pays well for it. This priest is called bayoc, and
he dresses like a woman. He wears a tapis,83 or
apron, and ties up his hair like a woman, although
above the tapis he wears and girds his catan, on the
left side, and on the right side, his y uas* as other men.
Those are the weapons of all these Indians and no
one goes without them, even though it be within his
own house. The idol to whom this bayoc principally
offers sacrifice is called Maty art, which means "pow-
erful." This idol is made with a wooden head and
its body and hands of straw. They dress it up like
an image after their manner, place it on its altar and
niche, then light for it torches of pitch for lack of
wax candles. All the people of the rancheria as-
semble to make the sacrifice. Having built his altar,
the bayoc takes his spear in his hand and makes three
holes in the earth with it. Those holes are filled with
wine, and the spear, having been thrust into the
83 Tapis is a Tagalog word, being the name of a garment worn
by women as a skirt. See Noceda and Sanlucar's Vocabulario
de la lengua tagala.
84 Iua: a Tagalog word for a weapon resembling a dagger.
See ut supra.
1 728-1 7 59] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 301
ground, the bayoc begins his sacrifice, with a leaf of
wild anahao or wild palm in his hand. He com-
mences to shiver, his whole body trembling, and
making many wry faces by means of his eyes, he gen-
erally talks, sometimes between his teeth, without
anyone understanding him. Sometimes he contents
himself with the wry faces which he makes with his
eyes and the tremblings of all his body. After a few
minutes he strikes himself twice on the knee with the
hand in which he holds the palm-leaf, and says that
he is the anito to whom the sacrifice is being made.
At this the sacristan (for the devil has even in this
the semblance of God and wishes to resemble His
Divine Majesty) explains the need of the person who
orders the sacrifice made. The bayoc promises to
fulfil the desire of the person who is having the sac-
rifice made, and immediately the bystanders begin
to sing certain songs in praise of the anito or idol.
While they are being sung, they give the bayoc and
the sacristan something to drink, and after those two,
all those present drink. But no one drinks or eats
anything that has been offered in the sacrifice until
the bayoc eats or drinks, for they say they would die
if they ate or drank before the anito, and for the
anito to eat or drink is no other thing than for the
bayoc to eat or drink.
The office of sacristan, although the bayoc gives it
to whomever he wishes, is not of great estimation,
and in the absence of the one appointed for such
office, the bayoc substitutes in his place the first one
he lays his eyes on. But the office of bayoc is held
in high estimation among them, and I am not sur-
prised, for it possesses such advantages that for cer-
tain honors which he performs for a deceased per-
302 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
son, they generally give him ten taes in gold. Those
honors are performed so that the soul of the deceased
may leave its relatives, for they say that the said soul
always follows them until said honors are shown it.85
Those honors are not shown to all, because all people
do not have the means for those expenses. When
they are performed, all the relatives and friends of
the deceased are invited to be present at them. They
offer food made of rice, buyo, tobacco, and wine to
the amount that seems sufficient for the guests. Then
clothing Malyari as abovesaid, and presiding over
the ceremonies in a two-fold manner,86 there is pure
disorder. Some lament, some sing, some play their
musical instruments, and some dance after their man-
ner. But whatever those who lament and those who
sing, lament and sing is in memory of the deceased.
Finally, what is offered is consumed, and when they
finish eating and drinking, the sacrifice is finished,
and each of the guests takes his cup from which he
has drunk, although some are accustomed to leave
them, but they are the fewest. Consequently, if one
hundred persons attended the honors one hundred
85 Wm. A. Reed (Negritos of Zambales, p. 26), commenting
on Salazar's description of the Zambals, which is condensed from
Perez, says: "Of course it is impossible to tell how much of
this is the product of the writer's imagination, or at least of the
imagination of those earlier chroniclers from whom he got his
information, but it can well be believed that the natives had a
religion of their own and that the work of the missionaries was
exceedingly difficult." In this connection, it is interesting to note
that Perez later vouches for the entire truth of whatever he has
written.
86 The original reads : presidiendo las ceremonias Bis. The
transcriber of the document for the present editors has added the
following note: "The structure and meaning of this word is not
well understood." It is the Latin word Bis, meaning "in a two-
fold manner," indicating that the god Malyari presides over both
the feast and the honors to the deceased.
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 303
other cups would have to be obtained for each person
to take his cup. It is to be noticed that they do not
always dress the anito Malyari, for only the bayoc has
it, but whenever said bayoc offers sacrifices for any
deceased person he dresses it, although some sacri-
fices are also made to other anitos without dressing
said Malyari.
They also have their kind of baptism, which only
the bayoc has authority to administer, first making
a sacrifice to Malyari in the abovesaid manner. At
the same time, they clothe the one baptized according
to their fashion. He looses his hair and hangs at the
ends some small pieces of gold. The sacrifice hav-
ing been finished, in place of water the bayoc bap-
tizes him with the blood of a hog, either of the do-
mestic or wild variety. The relatives of the one
baptized stand all about him and the former on top
of a rock. The ceremonies having been finished, the
bayoc cuts the ends of the hair of the baptized per-
son, from which hang the bits of gold, and flings
them aloft, and the bystanders collect them hurriedly.
That gold is afterward held in high estimation and
with difficulty will they let go of it. Consequently,
those nearest the one baptized and his relatives, while
the ceremonies and the sacrifice are being performed,
sing certain songs, and all those who are present
answer them. However, there are also very few who
are baptized in this manner, because the fees which
are given to the bayoc are large, and generally
amount to eight taes of gold. If while the sacrifice
or the ceremony of baptism is being performed, the
bystanders make a great racket, and if after the bayoc
has ordered them to keep still, the noise does not
abate, then the bayoc takes some bran, dust, or sand,
3°4 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
and flings it into the air over the heads of those who
are making the racket, and after that is done no one
dares to open his mouth and all the racket stops.
The method exercised by the bayoc in delegating
power to the other priests of the idols is not less
ridiculous than all his other affairs. The new anitero
or priest-to-be collects much wine, and the bayoc
attends for one or two days a great drunken revel
which must last for the space of seven days without
cessation. In that revel everyone who enters or goes
out, has leave to drink, and they are so long-winded
in that matter that as many as gather there have to get
drunk, and until he falls down and becomes dead
drunk, they do not allow him to leave that place.
Then the bayoc thereupon proclaims such and such
a miserable wretch as master of such and such an
anito. As soon as the seven continuous days of the
first revel are finished, they begin another seven days
counting every second day; and when those second
seven days are ended, they begin another seven,
counting every third day. If any of these circum-
stances are lacking, the bayoc says that the idol or
anito will punish them, and such anito will not obey
the priest. The pay which is given to the bayoc for
his assistance and proclamation to the new priest of
his priesthood is according to the anito which he
takes; for the anitos have their hierarchies among
themselves. There is one anito which costs eight taes
of gold, some that cost six, some four, and some three,
according to the anito which each one wishes.
Acasi. The anito superior to all seems to me to be
the one called Acasi ; for they sing him a song which
says "Mag yaman man a Malyari monagon si Acasi,"
namely, "Although Malyari is powerful Acasi gets
the first fruits." This is the refrain when they sing
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 305
in the sacrifice which is made to this idol. That idol
has few priests, for the authority given them by the
bayoc to be able to offer sacrifice to him costs them
a great sum. That idol, they say, is useful for the
sick, and for works of importance. All his priests
declare that they talk with Acasi, but no one says
that he sees him or does anyone of the bystanders
hear him talk. The same is true of the other idols
and their priests; and all become good and drunk
whenever a sacrifice is made, and the priest tells them
that the idol has told him the lies that he makes up,
and the others believe them as truth. This is uni-
versal among all the other sacrifices which are made
to the other idols.
Manglobar. There is another idol called Man-
globar. They say that that idol pacifies angry hearts.
Hence, when anyone commits a murder, he sends to
the priest of that idol to have him pacify the rela-
tives of the murdered man, and to reconcile them
with the murderer. That reconciliation consists in
the murderer giving gold or something worth it to
the relatives of the murdered person, according to
the rank of the latter. If the murderer has no gold,
then he gives a slave, who is generally some Negrillo
of the mountain, whom they capture for that pur-
pose. And if he cannot do that the priest kills a son
of the murderer or a very near relative. If the mur-
derer cannot do any of the above things, they kill
him. The party offended also generally has recourse
to such priest in order that the offender may be
reconciled with the offended, and that is very general
when the offender is more powerful than the party
offended or has more kindred to protect him. Only
a priest is able to uncover that idol.
Mangalagar. There is another idol called Man-
306 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
galagar. Of that idol it is said that he accompanies
the priest wherever he goes on all occasions when
they invoke him (good guardian angel!) when they
have to make any garro or mangao, which means to
cut off some head. If they have made a catch, they
give thanks to such idol, and make him a sacrifice.
This is so closely followed that they will under no
circumstances mount into their house without first
offering some sacrifice to such idol ; for they say that
they will be punished by that Mangalagar, if they do
not make him a feast before entering their houses,
and they will have no luck another time in cutting
off any other head. All those feasts are made with
wine and drunken reveling. That idol has many
priests, but not so many as do the anitos whom they
have for their paddy fields.
Of the anitos which they have for their rice, I have
not been able to discover more than five, as follows :
Aniton Tauo. He seems to me to be lord of the
winds, and superior to his four associates whom I
shall immediately name. They offer the pinicpig,
which are the firstfruits of their rice to that one.
They gather the green rice and pound it, and after-
wards parch it in a jar or kettle and offer it to him,
first making their bit of an altar where they hang
some handfuls of rice in proportion to the devotion
of each one. They call that method of offering
mamiarag. Then follows Dumagan, who they say
causes the rice to head well; then Calasacas, who
makes it ripen; then Calasocos, who they say dries
it. Accordingly, they sacrifice to him so that he may
not dry it up. Then follows Damolag, who they say
keeps it from the hurricanes when it is in flower.
Those anitos or idols have very many priests and
1728-1759]: RELATION OF ZAMBALS Z°7
priestesses, although, as I have said, no one sees the
said idols or talks with them. They do not even
paint them or have their images ; but what the priest
or priestess says to them they consider as an oracle
and say that it will not fail. Every class of people
have recourse to those sacrifices; although some In-
dians do not believe in it at all, yet, notwithstanding,
all attend them, Christians and heathens, without ex-
cepting anyone.
Of the superstitions of the Indians
I believe that the errors which they possess in this
matter of superstitions are not less than those which
I have mentioned of their idolatry, although I have
not investigated it as thoroughly as the matter of
their idolatry. But with the lapse of time, they will
be discovered and ascertained. There is a bird
which they call salacsac. Its beak is red, as are also
its feet. Some of its feathers are green and some
blue with black and white spots. That bird gets its
food in the river. If it appears on the right hand of
any one journeying to any place, he returns, for he
says that some accident will happen to him, or some
great trouble on the road, or in the place where he is
going, such as being killed, or being shot with ar-
rows, or something similar. If the said bird appears
on his left hand he says that the same thing will hap-
pen to those whom he leaves at home, such as his
children, wife, father, mother, or very near relative,
and on that account he also returns. However, if the
bird sings like a man who is laughing, then he goes
on, and says that that bird is favorable to him. But
if the said bird sings or croaks in any other way he
returns, for he says that it announces some very great
3°8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
danger to him. There is another bird smaller than a
gurrion which they call pasimanuquen. They say
the same of this as of the salacsac. They say the same
of the toco, so called by the Tagalog, and chacon by
the Spaniard. If they go to the mountain or near it
and any tree falls, they say the same as of the chacon
and of the two birds above mentioned. If they go
on a journey and hear anyone sneeze they also re-
turn, and if they are prepared and about to do any-
thing, they leave it then if anyone sneezes. If they
hear any crow cawing at night, they say that it an-
nounces the death of a very near relative. If any dog
which belongs to them breaks any of its teeth or falls
down, they either kill the dog or give it to some one;
for they say that it announces some death to them.
If the dog jumps out of the window when it wants to
leave the house, they also say that it announces the
same thing. If they dream that the clothing that
they have is ragged, they throw it away because they
say that they will die. If they dream that the house
falls down on them and burns them, they destroy it,
for they also say they will die. The devil also has
attempted to discredit the holy rosary among them,
and when they go hunting they take it off, for they
say that the dogs will bite the deer or wild boar if
they wear a rosary. Not one of these Indians eats
if he is alone, because they say that they will die.
Consequently, what they do is generally to make
their food ready and carry it until they find a com-
pany before whom they may eat. They have also
dedicated some places of the mountain and bamboos
to the anito, and, consequently, they cut nothing
there, for they say that they will die and that the
anito will kill them, although they do not know to
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 309
what anito it is dedicated, or who dedicated the said
mountain or district to such and such an anito, and
know only an old observance which they have re-
ceived from their ancestors. In their marriages they
also have their superstitions. After any marriage
has been performed, husband and wife go to the
mountain to seek the salacsac or the pasimanuquen,
and if the bird sings well they return very happy;
but if it sings badly they return very sad. If it sings
well they carry along the road a bombon or pitcher
of water, and by means of the said water, which is
drunk by all the bystanders, the two newly-married
people will have children. For the bird to sing well,
it must sing on their right hand and in the manner of
the said bird which laughs. To sing ill means noth-
ing else than to sing on the left hand, so that the bird
is somewhat hoarse and sad. In such case they say
that said marriage will have a bad ending, and that
one of the two will die in a short time. If they do
not see the bird, they say that they will have no
children.
Of the customs of these Indians
Although those Indians have their kind of rank,
since some are chiefs, and others not, and there are
others who are descended from slaves, yet notwith-
standing that they have no obedience one for the
other. The poor man does not obey the rich, nor
does the chief have any authority over him who is
not a chief. Those who are obeyed (although but
little) are the old men, when they assemble as if in
council or meeting of the old men. But, in private
no one dares to order another one, neither the chief
him who is not a chief, nor the rich man the poor
3 1 ° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
man; for here every one is master of his own will,
and each one thinks that he is greater than his neigh-
bor. Their method of governing is by fear, and ac-
cordingly each one tries to make the others fear him
more than any other. In order to accomplish that
each one endeavors to beat the others in committing
murders, so that the others may fear him. They com-
mit those murders by treachery. In order that the
relatives of the murdered man may not slay the mur-
derer, the latter pays such and such a sum of gold to
the kindred of the murdered person, according to the
rank of the deceased. For if such deceased was a
chief or had many kin, his murder costs more and is
redeemed by a greater sum. The lowest price with
which a murder is generally redeemed is five taes of
gold. If the murderer has no gold, he redeems the
said murder with silver at the rate of eight pesos per
tae of gold, although gold is valued at ten pesos per
tae among those Indians; for it is very low grade
gold, and as I have heard said does not reach fourteen
carats. The little gold that they do possess is much
adulterated with silver, copper, and bronze. But if
the said murderer has no gold or silver with which
to redeem the murder that he committed, he goes to
the mountain and deceives some black or steals him
and drags him to his rancheria, and delivers him to
the relatives of the murdered man so that they may
slay the said black. There is [no] great difficulty in
this for in mountains there they have many acquaint-
ances among the blacks. Those blacks are not with-
out their enemies in some rancherias of the blacks
themselves, where they go to make the seizure. And
since the blacks are very revengeful in taking ven-
geance on their enemies, they aid the Zambals to
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 31 I
capture them. The Zambal gives the black, whose
services he has used for that purpose, some arrows or
machetes.
But it must also be noticed that they do not always
kill the black who is thus captured, for sometimes
they let him live, and he is made a perpetual slave.
There are many such slaves today, and I even believe
that all the slaves whom they have are of this kind.
If the murderer gives a slave in this way, he redeems
the murder that he committed. Even if he cannot
give gold or silver or a slave he kills one of his sons
or delivers him to the relatives of the murdered one
so that they may slay him. They never hesitate to
kill that son thus delivered up, for when he can bear
arms he will rebel and return to his father. If per-
chance the child of the murderer given for ransom
of the murder which he committed is a daughter,
when the said daughter is married she will go to the
house of her father or relatives with her husband.
For among the Zambals the woman is greater than
the man, and the men sometimes obey the women.
The latter are very haughty, and when the husband
does not obey his wife, marriages are unmade very
easily. If we reach such straits that the murderer
has neither gold, silver, nor anything of value and
cannot get a slave in the mountain, or a black, which
is the same thing for that purpose, and has no son or
daughter, or very near relative, such as some small
orphan child, then in such case his kin themselves
help him in ransoming himself, for in any other
event, the relatives of the murdered person would
infallibly kill him.
Accordingly, these Indians esteem it highly to
have kinship, and, although they be very remote
3 1 2 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
relatives, they treat one another as brothers because
of the need which they have one of the other, so that
they may be aided one by the other in such cases.
Notwithstanding the said estimation which they have
for their relatives, we see an evil and perverse custom
which they have which is worse than the most blood-
thirsty beasts, namely, that Zambals are not accus-
tomed to have more than two children, one a male
and the other a female. Consequently, if they al-
ready have one male child, they kill all the sons at
birth until a daughter is born. Then after they have
had said daughter scarcely is the woman pregnant
when they already arrange to kill the son or daughter,
as soon as it emerges from the womb of the mother.
But if any one begs said son or daughter, even while
yet in the womb of its mother it is given to such per-
son. But the one who has asked for it must pay its
mother all the time that the said mother is occupied
in suckling such boy or girl ; and afterward it is con-
sidered as the child of that person at whose account
it was reared and kept alive. However, I know many
in this manner who have great love for their
true parents. Since we discovered said custom
among them, we had delivered from death three chil-
dren, although to the great sorrow of their parents
because they had not killed them. But as soon as we
find out that any woman is pregnant, we warn her
that she must not kill the son or daughter that she
brings forth, for we will punish her very severely,
and they, for fear of the punishment, allow their
children to live.
They also have their mourning for very near de-
ceased relatives. That consists in wearing a cloth on
the head, which they are accustomed to remove in no
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 3 1 3
case until they have committed a murder. And as
long as they wear the said mourning which they call
balata*7 they are not accustomed to sing, or dance, or
play their musical instruments ; nor will they attend
any feast among them. Those feasts are always made
with wine, and their musical instruments are played
at them. But when they have cut off some head, or
committed some murder, then they remove the balata,
or mourning. For that purpose the relatives assem-
ble and a great drunken revel is made where much
wine is consumed and some days spent in this occu-
pation. Accordingly, it is necessary that among these
Indians many murders must be committed, for no
mourning is removed until some murder has been
committed, and then the relatives of the one who has
been recently murdered in order to remove the pre-
vious mourning, also put on new mourning, and in
order to remove that it is necessary to commit another
murder. Hence, they mutually kill one another, and
they are always wearing mourning, except when the
murder is committed far away among the blacks, or
among the Indians subject to his Majesty in the
neighboring provinces. And in order that they may
not proceed ad infinitum in this manner, they try to
commit the murders which they do commit secretly,
when it is not in their district, so that the said mur-
der may not be attributed to them. But, having com-
mitted the said murder, then they tell it to their
neighbors, and they make merry, sing, and play their
music, for as long a time as they ceased to make
merry during the time when they wore the balata.
87 Balata is also used by the Tagalogs to signify "abstinence
from something in memory of any person." See Noceda and
Sanlucar's Vocabulario.
3 H THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
Thus it is commonly said that three-fourths of those
who die among these Zambals die violent deaths, and
one-fourth and even not that much, die natural
deaths. But whenever there is any death, be it vio-
lent or natural, there is the balata which must be re-
moved by another death, either by killing another
Zambal, a black of the mountain, or an Indian of the
provinces, near the said Zambals, or a black of the
mountain, or an Indian. I know a man who is said
to have committed sixty murders. I do not dare to
assert as true that which is told me of that Indian,
but what I know is that those Indians do not get
angry or take it as an affront among themselves to be
so cruel, but on the contrary they highly praise and
assert those customs, and are vain of the murders
which they commit. Thus, as among the Spaniards,
one speaks and talks with courtesy of "my associate
so and so," "my neighbor," "my comrade," etc., and
it is a kind of discourtesy to say "Juan Fernandez"
"Pedro Sanchez," etc.; so also among these Indians
it is a discourtesy to be called by one's companions
only men. It is a high and good politeness to be
called by the name which signifies in their own lan-
guage, "an accomplice in a murder" that title being
u Araoc'" and thus they say Araoc Juan, etc. And
as they are little given to flattery, they never give the
name of Araoc to him who does not really and truly
possess it; for it is regarded among them as making
a jest at one to whom the said title is given, if it does
not belong to him, just as among us it is a jest to give
the title of a brave man to one who does not dare to
draw his sword from his belt.
Their marriages are not made between relatives,
but on the contrary they try to marry those who are
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 2>l S
not related to them; and I believe that the reason
therefor is to acquire new kinship by means of mar-
riage, for we see that he who has the most kindred
is the most powerful, is the one held in highest es-
teem by all and commits more murders in which con-
sists their greatest estate, for he has more and greater
opportunity to go scotfree from those murders which
he commits. Marriages are not performed until the
relatives of both parties are assembled, and order the
two contracting parties to eat together from one
plate. All the other preceding preparations and
ceremonies belong to the contract of the marriage
and the betrothal. Said marriages, moreover, are
[not] made by virtue of the wish of the contracting
parties, for they are married from childhood when
most of the contracting parties do not even have the
use of their reason. The reason that has been given
to me for this is so that they may be raised together
from childhood, and contract love one for the other.
But we see that very many marriages result badly,
and after marriage the parties separate, although in
this regard the men are very patient, for among these
Indians, as among all those of this land, it is the cus-
tom for the man to give the dowry to the woman.
Among the Zambals, it is the custom not only to give
the dowry to the woman, but also another kind of
dowry to all the relatives of the said woman. They
call the latter dowry sambon. Among the Tagalogs
it was also formerly the custom and was called sohol.
That second dowry among these Indians is generally
larger than the first, which is the one that is given to
the woman. If husband and wife quarrel, and she
wishes to separate from her husband and marry an-
other man, and if the cause of the quarrel has been
3 I 6 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
given by the man ; they are divorced and he loses the
dowry which he gave to his wife, as well as that
which he gave to the relatives of said wife. But if
the cause of the said quarrel proceeded from the wife
and she wishes to be divorced, she must return all the
dowry, and in such case her relatives also return that
which was given to them. And since it is of some con-
sequence to them whether the two married people
live at peace or at war, it is very common for all the
woman's kin to take her side, in order not to return
what was given to each one. Consequently, although
there may never be justice, the woman always has the
argument on her side to do that which she wishes.
And since there is no other justice here than the yua,
bows and arrows, the tanca, and caraza, the greater
kindred and those most interested always prevail;
and since these are the relatives of the woman to
whom the dowry was given and the husband is alone,
and at the most is supported by his brothers, always
or generally the argument is on the side of the wife,
and the husband has to give up both dowries. Con-
sequently, the poor Zambal, in order not to be left
without wife and dowry, endures whatever his wife
wishes. Besides, these Indians are not so barbarous
that they do not know when they are right in what
they ask, and when they are not right. Consequently,
the wife will never say that she wishes to be divorced
unless it is when the husband was the evident cause
of the quarrel. However, sometimes they are accus-
tomed to make friendship between the husband and
wife, on condition that the husband commit a mur-
der. In such an event he leaves the house and does
not come again into the presence of his wife until he
commits said murder. The murder having been
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS Zl7
committed, and said wife hearing of it, before the
husband reaches the house, his wife goes to receive
him with a new bajaque in her hands, in order to pre-
sent it to her husband in sign of congratulation for
obeying her. But in such an event the wife and her
relatives have to make good the damage which fol-
lows from the said murder, and the husband is free.
The ceremony of the wife going out to meet her hus-
band with the present of the bajaque on said occa-
sion is of so great importance among these Indians
that the husband will be grieved if his wife fails in
this ceremony or courtesy.
The married women have one good custom, and
that is that they are chaste and loyal to their hus-
bands. Scarcely can a married woman be found
among the Zambals of whom it can be said casually
that she has had lascivious communication with
another, although it is very common for all the peo-
ple to sleep together in one hut or thicket, and all,
both men and women, are intoxicated. But there will
be no occasion for a man to jest with a married
woman, and more, in the presence of others. But I
also believe that that chastity or less incontinence in
this matter was not taught by the devil for the wel-
fare and honor of these Zambals, but to give them
more opportunities to commit more murders and to
make them more turbulent, for the married men are
very jealous of their wives and in no case do they
leave them. Wherever they go, they go together,
and do not lose sight of one another. When they go
on a journey, they take all their possessions and the
wife carries it all in a basket which she bears on her
back by means of a cord from the head. The man
with his bow and arrow escorts her. They are ac-
3 I 8 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
customed even to carry the hen and its chicks in the
said basket or under the arm, so that they carry all
that they can of the possessions which they have in
their house except what is not portable, and those
they hide in the thicket. And if the husband absents
himself because of any occurrence, and cannot take
his wife with him, and if, during the said absence,
the wife weakens in her chastity, and it comes to be
common property in the rancheria, for if she has been
weak it is very difficult to keep such news from her
husband, for these Indians cannot keep a secret:
then in such an event the husband kills without any
remedy the one who has offended him by sinning
with his wife. And having killed such a person, he
informs the relatives themselves of said wife of the
treachery which his wife has committed in order that
they may kill her ; and if the said relatives neglect to
kill such a wife, then, in that case her own husband
kills her and can kill also any relative of the said wife
without being obliged on that account to pay any-
thing. Notwithstanding this custom, that quarrel is
generally patched up with gold, but they must have
much gold among them for that means. I know a
principal woman, one of the most influential of said
Zambals, whom one of these contentions cost more
than thirty taes of gold and two slaves whom she de-
livered up so that their heads might be cut off. But
it is to be noted that the offender of the wife, or the
adulterer \mancebo~\, gives said gold to the husband
of said wife, and the wife gives the gold to her own
relatives, if they are her cousins and brothers. That
woman and chieftainess is called Monica Corosan
and was married in facie eclesia \i>e., with the rites of
the Church], and because she has been weak and lit-
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 319
tie or not at all faithful to her husband, it cost her the
sum above mentioned, and she was divorced and
separated from her legitimate husband, by whom
she had a son, and was remarried to her adulterer.
He already has three daughters. But although the
said quarrel was patched up by means of the gold she
has not dared to appear before her relatives for more
than twelve years. Consequently, the fact that said
women are so chaste proceeds from this rigor which
they exercise in this matter. If they value their hus-
bands and relatives so greatly, it is because the latter
may take vengeance. I believe that the single women
are also chaste, although some are generally careless ;
but both the woman and the accomplice pay with
their lives if the fact is learned. If any woman is
pregnant, her relatives force her to tell who is the
accomplice of her pregnancy, and if the two do not
marry, the relatives kill them both without being
obliged to give any compensation therefor.
Burials. In their burials, they are not wont to
shroud the deceased but to clothe him. If he is a
chief they put two dresses on him, according to their
manner, and two robes. If the deceased has any
share in any inheritance of gold, before they bury
said deceased, the gold is divided before the corpse
itself, and the part which belonged to him is placed
in the grave with the said corpse with his store of
certain articles of food. I have heard it said of the
natives of Buquil that if the deceased is a chief and
has any slave, they kill a slave and bury him with his
master. I have had very little to do with the natives
of Buquil, and, consequently, I do not know how
much truth there is in this, and I do not affirm it. I
have also heard another thing said which would
32° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
horrify the ears were I to tell it; hence I do not dare
to set it down on this paper. For, as I say, I have
had but little to do with the natives of Buquil, as they
have not allowed us to enter there, and if I were to
qualify it as true when I was not sure that it was true,
if it afterwards appears to be false, it will be inferred
that there is but little truth in this paper of mine.
Consequently, I will not mention it.
There is a kind of contempt which is very great
among the Indians for one who has not murdered
anyone. Consequently, those who have some little
gold with which to pay for their murders are much
given to this vice of murdering. They generally buy
slaves or negrillos of the mountain so that their little
sons might kill them. Binding the wretched slave or
black they take said sufferer into the presence of their
sons from three to seven years old and there kill him,
and by that means their minds and all their being
become acquainted with the idea of blood, so that
when they are grown they may have so evil a custom.
It is a curious thing that they generally buy many
blacks or slaves for that purpose, and if one cannot
do it, or has no wealth for the purpose of buying a
black or slave in order that he may kill him alone, he
unites with others, and thus many together buy said
black. One buys the right to give the first lance-
thrust or stab, another the second, another to take
away a quarter of the head, another another bit of it,
another half the head - according to the amount of
the capital of each one - and he who wounds him
with greater ferocity, that one has the best lot. I will
relate a matter in regard to this, which happened to
me when I was vicar of Abucay. Once I had about
five little Zambal lads in the convent whom I was
1 7 28-i 7 59] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 32 1
teaching to pray and read. It happened that the
fathers of three of them came to see them, and that
gave the children, who were seven or eight years old,
a desire to return to Playa Honda with their fathers.
I gave them permission, for their parents begged it
of me. I did not give permission to the other two,
and, consequently, they remained in said convent
with me. While the other little fellows were return-
ing in company with their fathers and passing by
Mariyumo, which is a visita of Mariueles, it hap-
pened that the Indians of that visita, who are also
Zambals and but very little different from those of
Playa Honda, had that day caught a black of the
mountain, whom they were about to kill on the fol-
lowing day. The Zambals and the children, their
sons, stayed for the feast in celebration of the killing
of the black. For their joy in being present at a
death of any person in such a manner is as great as it
is for Spaniards to attend a zarza or play or all to
play at ring.88 That news came to the ears of the
children, who remained under my care in Abucay,
two months afterwards. They were told of the feast
which their three companions had had in the village
of Mariyumo when they were at the killing; and so
great was their sorrow that they had not returned on
that past occasion with their three companions that
they began to bewail their lack of luck because they
88 The Spanish for "to play at ring" is correr a la sortija. This
is an equestrian sport, which is played by taking an iron ring as
large as a Segovian ochavo (a small brass coin). This ring is
fitted into another piece of iron, from which it can be easily with-
drawn. The latter is hung from a cord or pole a few feet from
the ground, and the horsemen and others who take part in the
game, taking the proper distance, go toward the ring at a run.
The one who bears off the ring on his lance is declared the win-
ner. See Dominguez's Diccionario.
322 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
had not returned with their companions so that they
also might have been present at the killing. Hence,
one can infer their so great inclination for this vice,
for those who have never seen nor known any better
customs learn to kill from early childhood. And in
case that anyone has entire information concerning
the peace and quiet into which the Christians come
by means of the Catholic faith, since they have to live
among Indians of such customs, they must always
have death in their hands or before their eyes, for
one can trust no one, since they do not trust them-
selves. For every step that they take is at the risk of
their lives. Often they kill from necessity, as they
believe, so that they may not be killed, as happens
when they see in their rancherias any person or per-
sons whom they do not know. Since they do not
know whether such persons are about to kill them,
they anticipate them and take away their lives, but it
is more usual to kill for revenge and to make oneself
feared and famous in this matter. There are many
of them who, when they have committed fifteen mur-
ders, place on the hams of the legs certain strings of
a small white fruit of an herb which they call banta-
can. When they have killed seventeen persons, they
place the said fruit very close together in the manner
of a rosary which they call tigdin. When the num-
ber has reached more than nineteen, they take away
said fruit and in its place wear certain very highly
colored sigueyes. But it is to be noted that, although
twenty men take part in one murder, in order that
they may wear that regalia, which they consider as
tabi™ each one claims said murder as his, as if he
had done it alone. They also generally tie a long
89 A word of respect in the Tagalog dialect.
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 323
narrow strip of anahao, or palmleaf, on the hilt of
their dagger or yua. That token shows that he who
carries it was the first one to strike the person that
was killed on that occasion. Notwithstanding the
abovesaid, if anyone goes to their rancherias in com-
pany with another Zambal of their number, he is
sufficiently safe although he might be still safer at
Manila.
Of the change which we see today in
these Indians
He who considers their barbarous customs, idola-
tries, superstitions, and the natural and great inclina-
tion for killing which these Indians possess, and in
which they have been reared; and hears of the so
great change and the difference which exists at pres-
ent in all their customs, when compared to those that
they possessed in their recesses and rancherias : will
easily understand that already God is walking among
them, and that He has already taken pity on the souls
and wishes them for himself. The immortality of
the soul has already been explained to these Indians
in their mother tongue ; as has also the reward which
God has for those who keep His commandments and
those of our holy mother Church, and the punish-
ment reserved for those who break them, and that,
for as many sins as man commits he has to take his
punishment in this life or in the next ; and the unity
of God, His eternity, and at the same time that which
the Christian man must believe in order to be saved.
It has been father Fray Domingo Escalera who
has already learned their language, and has gone
communicating it from one to the other, until there
are now very few who do not understand this. When
3 24 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
said father explains to them something of which they
have not heard, all look at one another, as if sur-
prised to hear what they are hearing. I have not had
the capacity to do as much as the said father, but I
have managed to explain it also in the Tagalog
tongue to those who understand it. But they do not
understand many things, and I cannot tell them to
them. Consequently, I trust, God helping, that said
father will produce great fruit among these Indians,
as he has learned their language. These Indians did
not observe any festivals or Sunday, or Lent, or vigil,
or Friday. Consequently, although there are many
Christians baptized from childhood, it was the same
as if they were heathen, and there was no difference
between heathens and Christians. Having explained
to them on one occasion the seriousness of the sin of
breaking feast days, one of them went to the mountain
and one Sunday while cutting some bamboos he hurt
his foot. The rumor spread among the Indians that
God had punished that Indian because he worked on
Sunday, and from that time they have observed feast
days and Sundays. On another occasion, namely,
Ash Wednesday, the said father told them that they
ought to abstain from eating meat throughout Lent,
and that God would punish whoever broke said pre-
cept. Next day an Indian went hunting, and having
killed a carabao calf, while he was cutting it up and
carrying it to his house or to the village, the mother
of the calf came out of the thicket and killed the In-
dian. Thereupon, the father took occasion to again
charge them to abstain from meat during Lent, Fri-
day, and vigil. All through Lent there was scarcely
one Christian or heathen who dared to eat meat. For
about eight months we lived in a small house which
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 325
had scarcely room for the two beds of two reli-
gious. We had three Indians of Abucay who built
us another larger house where we could live with
some freedom. There was no Indian who would be
so kind as to aid them in their customs in anything,
until they saw that the presidio of the Spaniards
which is located twelve leguas from the village
where we united these Indians, had already about
forty men, and as soon as they heard the arquebuses
in Buquil, which was ten leguas from the said vil-
lage, they moved quickly, and no longer answered a
dry "no quiero" [i.e., "I will not"], for whatever we
commanded them, as they had before answered us all
the time. I have already said above that the devil
had discredited the rosary of the most holy Virgin,
our Lady, among these Indians, and although some
had rosaries which some faithful ones or religious
had given them, in order to incline them to that holy
devotion, yet no one of them could recite it, for there
was no one who knew anything of the prayer. They
only kept it in order to show it to those who went to
trade and traffic at their rancherias, in order that they
might consider them as Christians, as it is a kind of
affront among them not to be a Christian. On the
contrary they believed that nothing good would hap-
pen to them if they wore the rosary about their necks.
But seeing the esteem which we had for those sacred
beads, and that in their sicknesses when they asked us
for any remedy for their attacks in which we do not
apply any other medicine except the sacred rosary,
and when they recognize that they recover miracu-
lously from their illness by the use of the rosary
alone, they believe that the devil had deceived them,
and are growing very fond of this holy devotion, so
326 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
that now very many of the married men, the single
youth, indeed, the old men, wear the rosary about
their necks, some recite it in their houses, and others
attend church morning and afternoon to recite the
rosary with the lads, and very many of them already
know the whole prayer, and recite it at night in their
houses in a loud voice. They formerly obeyed no
one, but now they show great respect to their gober-
nadorcillos, to their chief, and to the old men, so that,
if they are seated anywhere and their gobernadorcillo
arrives, they all rise, and no one sits or covers his
head until his gobernadorcillo is seated. Father Do-
mingo Escalera has lived for a short time with the
Indians of Nuebo Toledo, since they were gathered
together. Having come to the said village during
the last days of the past Lenten season, and seeing the
so great change that God had produced in them, he
said: "At the rate with which God is changing the
hearts of these Indians, they will be better Christians
than those of Masinloc before ten years' time, al-
though said Indians of Masinloc have been Chris-
tians for more than sixty years." When we reached
their districts in the beginning, the children and even
the women fled from us, but today the women are
very affable and those who have anything to wear go
to church and scarcely can we keep the children
away from us. When we go to the village, they come
down from their houses and accompany us, and we
can scarcely walk, because they seize us by our habits,
and place their scapularies before our eyes. Every
morning and afternoon they go to the church to pray
and to hear mass. Before mass we recite the rosary,
and after mass the whole prayer. In the afternoon
we leave the church in the manner of a procession in
two choirs, and the father sings the prayer and they
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 327
answer until the prayer is finished. And on entering
the church again candles are lighted to our Lady,
and the holy rosary is also recited.
Method used in getting these Indians to persevere
in said prayers
The Zambals are the most cowardly people in
these islands, although they have hitherto been con-
sidered by the neighboring provinces as a people of
great courage and warlike. Their cowardice could
be proved by many examples, but that does not con-
cern the present matter. Their whole strength con-
sists in fleeing, and their courage in hiding. From
that cowardice it proceeds that all the murders that
they commit are by treachery. It never happens that
if, fighting face to face, the enemy escapes and is on
his guard and watchful, they commit any murder,
because of their great timidity and cowardice. Ac-
cordingly, in order that those whom we have assem-
bled in the three villages above mentioned,, may
persevere in their settlements, the most efficacious
fear and the one most suited to their nature is that the
Spaniards of the fort and presidio of Paynauen of
whom they have a very great fear, may come very
often to the said villages and overrun the land, and
penetrate even into their old recesses where they for-
merly lived ; and if perchance they should find any-
thing planted in the said recesses that they would
destroy it and cut it down without leaving them any-
thing. And so that they may see that the father pro-
tects them, when the said Spaniards come to the
village, the father opposes them and takes the part
of the Indians.00 But it is always necessary in this
90 Even when I was a missionary to the heathens from 1882
to 1892, I had occasion to observe the said policy, to inform the
328 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
matter for the soldiers to conquer, and the father is
always very careful to always inform the Spaniards
by whom and where anything is planted which it
may be necessary to destroy, and that the edicts which
his Lordship, the governor, sent them be carried out.
These are to the effect that no one should plant any-
thing in the old rancherias and that in the village
each one should plant one thousand feet of gabes, and
five hundred of sugar-cane ; that said soldiers are to
continue to make raids through the whole plain as I
say, very often; yet, whenever the soldiers come to
the village, they are to ask the gobernadorcillo and
cabezas (for whom already they have some obedi-
ence) for permission to go to look for those who have
become fugitives, and the father is to go along in
order to assure such fugitive. As said absence has
proceeded a trifle from fear of the Spaniard, the In-
dians of the village themselves are to go to seek those
who should have become fugitives, in order that they
may not go in company with the Spaniard to the
mountain, for the fear which they have of the said
soldiers is inexplicable. They are to oblige said In-
dians to make their gardens and fields in the village,
where they have fine lands, very fertile for fields and
gardens. If any are found to be neglectful in this,
such persons are to be bound in order to keep them
and take them to the fort so that they may pound rice
for the soldiers. By those measures, there is no man
who dares to return to the mountain. After they
have lost their fear of the Spaniards, the latter are to
try to excite trouble between the Indians and the
chief of the fortress of the measures that he ought to take, and to
make a false show on the other side so that it might have no influ-
ence on the fortress. (Note by Dominican transcriber.)
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 329
blacks of the mountain,91 but at all events said Span-
iards are to make no trouble for the Indians whom
they find in the villages, but rather must treat them
well.
In order that this may have effect, it is necessary
for the governor to send twenty or thirty horses to the
said district, so that the Spaniards may get over the
country, for the roads are intolerable, especially
from the fort to Santa Rossa de Banguen. That is a
distance of six leguas of very troublesome sandy
ground without a drop of fresh water in the dry sea-
son. There is a distance of six leguas also from Santa
Rossa de Banguen to Nuevo Toledo, where one can-
not find a tree under which to rest. Accordingly,
without the said horses, nothing can be done, for all
those who should go to the said places run great risk
from the sun, as happened when Adjutant Alvaro
Martin Franco went to the said villages to hold the
elections, when almost all the Spaniards who accom-
panied him fell sick. Said horses will be of great use
to the soldiers in hunting, for this country has abun-
dance of game. With the horses also they can over-
run the land of Buquil, and terrorize intractable
persons. Since said Spaniards often go to and fro
between these villages and to Buquil, no Indian will
go to the mountain, since no harm is done to them in
the village; and those of the mountain considering
their restlessness and that they are not safe and that
the Spaniards destroy their fields will descend to sow
and to live in the settlement. For today, if those of
the mountain do not descend, it is because they fear
91 The same thing was advised by father Fray Remigio Rodri-
guez del Alamo to Don Narciso Claveria y Oscariz, in respect to
the different tribes of Ifugaos. (Note by Dominican transcriber.)
33° THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol.47
that the Spaniards will punish them for not having
descended before.
In order to suppress all their bad customs, after
having preached against them, proving them with
natural arguments which are very easy and clearf
with some examples which cause them horror, the
most efficacious means which I find is for the father
to investigate all their customs, and to understand
them thoroughly, so that he may know them all ; and
then to make fun of the Indians because they do not
know that that is bad. If this is not sufficient, it is
efficacious for the father to make them afraid that he
is going to retire because they refuse to learn good
customs, and abandon their abuses and atrocities, so
that in such an event the Spaniards may come upon
them and kill them all; and by means of the fear
which they have the father can do whatever he wishes
with them.
I assert that I have investigated thoroughly what-
ever I have written in this paper by the aid of some
Christian Zambals who are very good Catholics
whom I have had under my care for four years, and
whom I have been teaching to read and have in-
structed in our holy Catholic faith by means of the
Tagalog books which have been written for that pur-
pose by the zealous ministers whom that Tagalog
nation has had. One of these Zambals is the son of
a priest of the idols, who was reared in a rancheria
where sacrifices were often made to the idols. An
uncle of this lad whom I also have under my charge
was formerly bayoc of the Zambals, so that he knows
all the ceremonies, superstitions, and sacrifices, and
is also thoroughly conversant with their customs, for
he lived among the said Zambals for about twenty
years. Besides this, for three years I have had with
1728-1759] RELATION OF ZAMBALS 33 1
me another child about ten years old who also knows
the customs of these Indians, because he was born
and raised among them, for he is the son of Zambal
parents. All of those persons tell me what passes
among the said Zambals. Besides this, I have also
managed to prove it from the children of the village
who, since they do not realize my purpose in ques-
tioning them in regard to these things, tell me it all.
But if I ask any of the old men, or anyone who is
very maliciously minded, he will not tell me anything
unless I ask him secretly.
Consequently, I consider as true whatever I have
written here, and I have refused to write anything
of which I am doubtful.
Fray Domingo Perez
[Below is added by another person :]
Until the year 1682, said Zambals were reduced
and softened by the vigilance and attendance of the
father missionaries of the order of our father St.
Dominic. May our Lord prosper everything as He
is able.
Afterward in November, of the year 83, a bold In-
dian with another who accompanied him, waited in
a concealed thicket for the father-vicar, Fray Do-
mingo Perez, who was journeying from one village
to another, and shot him with an arrow, so that he
reached his village badly wounded and died in a
short time, after confessing to father Fray Juan Rois.
Since that time the Zambals have been in revolt.
May it be the Lord's will that they grow quiet.
Now since the assembly of 84 the fathers have
been living cautiously and near the fortress. The
vicar is father Fray Gregorio92 and his associate
92 This was Gregorio Giraldez, who reached the Philippines
in 1679. He was a Galician by birth and professed in the Do-
332 THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS [Vol. 47
Fray Juan Navas,93 errant. In Masinloc the vicar is
Fray Juan Fernandez94 and his associate Fray Juan,95
errant.
[Copy endorsed: "The undersigned, provincial
archivist of the province of Santisimo Rosario de
Filipinas and conventual of the convent of Santo
Domingo of this city, certifies that the preceding
copy is faithfully copied from the original, which is
preserved in the third archives of martyrs - cajon 8,
legajo 1, no. 2. In order that the above may be ap-
parent he signs the present in this convent of Santo
Domingo, January 3, 1906. The archivist,
Fray Julian Malumbres (rubric), O.P."]
[Endorsed: "A copy.
MANUEL de YRIARTE, chief, division of archives,
ex-officio notary public."]
minican order August 31, 1666. He was immediately sent to
the province of Zambales, being appointed in 1682 vicar of Ala-
lang, and in 1684, of Paynaven. In 1686 he became superior of
the Manila convent. He rilled the offices also of procurator-gen-
eral, president of San Juan de Letran, and vicar-provincial. His
death occurred at Manila, May 28, 1702. See Salazar's Historia,
p. 130; and Resena biogrdfica, ii, pp. 215, 216.
93 Juan de la Nava went to the Philippines in 1684, and was
assigned immediately to Masinloc, in the province of Zambales,
which post he filled for four years. In 1690 he was appointed
vicar-provincial there, at the same time having in charge the
house at Paynaven. His death occurred August 24, 1691. See
Salazar's Historia, pp. 583, 584, and Resena biogrdfica, ii, p. 252.
94 Juan Fernandez was born in the province of Asturias, and
professed at Valladolid, September 8, 1674. Reaching the Philip-
pines in 1679 at the age of twenty-six, he was sent to the province
of Zambales, being assigned in 1680 to Masinloc, where he
remained until 1686. He was also vicar of Santiago Apostol
de Bolinao (1688-96) and of Santa Catalina V. y M. de Agno;
vicar-provincial (1692-94); at Bolinao again (1696-98); supe-
rior of Manila convent (1698-1702); president of the house of
Santa Monica de Marihumo, in Zambales, from 1702 until his
death in the first half of 1703. See Salazar's Historia, p. 130;
and Resena biogrdfica, ii, pp. 223, 224.
95 This was Juan Rois. See vol. xli, p. 250, note 76.
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JOHN W. AUDUBON
Edited by Frank Heywood Hodder, Professor of American History,
University of Kansas, with Biographical memoir by Maria R. Audubon.
With folded map , portrait, and the author's original drawings
AUDUBON was the leader of a California Expedition which started from New
York City for the gold-fields in February, 1849. This Journal, here published
for the first time, gives a vivid first-hand picture of the difficulties of the
overland journey, and the excitements, dangers, and privations of life in the gold-
fields. The descriptions of the spreading of the gold craze in the East, the journey
through Mexico, and the social conditions after reaching California show Audubon
to be a keen and faithful observer.
The CHICAGO EVENING POST says:
"He was not only a close observer of that which we ordinarily call nature, but he was a keen judge of men
His book reads like a novel. There are incident and anecdote, pulsing bits of adventure, scenic description and bits
of philosophical musings scattered through the pages. In addition to this the journal has its distinct scientific value.
for the younger Audubon knew nature only to a lesser degree than did his father. His diary contains ornithological
notes that ?.re of lasting service, and the botany and geology of the trail of his westward journeying were not over-
looked."
Printed direct from type en Dickinson's deckle-edged paper.
Large 8vo, cloth, uncut. Price, $3. 00 net.
A real literary and historical find. "
Personal Narrative of Travels
in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Kentucky; and of a Residence in the Illinois Territory
(1817-1818) by
ELIAS PYM FORDHAM
With facsimiles of the author's sketches and plans
Edited with Notes, Introduction, Index, etc., by
FREDERIC AUSTIN OGG, A. M.
Author of "The Opening of the Mississippi'"''
THIS hitherto unpublished MS. was written in 1817-18 by a young English-
man emigrating to America. Landing at Baltimore, he visited Philadelphia,
Pittsburg, and Cincinnati, and traveled through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky,
and Illinois, making frank and pointed comments on the people and the country.
The narrative is consequently rich in personalia of early settlers, remarks on
contemporary history and politics, state of trade, agriculture, prices, and information
on local history not obtainable elsewhere; it will therefore make accessible to histor-
ical students much new and important material, besides giving the general reader a
book of vital and absorbing interest.
"An artless but convincing narrative of life in what we now call the Middle West, but was then
the very ragged edge of civilization." — Thi Dial.
Printed direct from type on Dickinson's deckle-edged paper.
Large 8^0, cloth, uncut. Price $3. 00 net.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF
RECONSTRUCTION
Political, Military, Social,
Religious, Educational ^f Industrial
1865 to the Present Time
SELECTED AND EDITED BY
WALTER L. FLEMING, Ph. D.
PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
Printed on a specially made paper, illustrated with facsimiles, two volumes,
large 8vo, (about 900 pages), cloth, uncut, gilt tops. Price per set, $10.00 net.
This work has been prepared in response to a demand on the part of
students and thoughtful readers for an adequate collection of historical
material which shall
1st. Present the original sources, which alone give the true
contemporary conditions, and allow the reader to make his own
interpretation of the facts.
2nd. Comprehend all phases of the progress and results of
Reconstruction, social and economic, as well as political.
3rd. Exhibit not only the national aspects but also the local
conditions of Reconstruction, in all the States.
Professor Fleming is recognized as one of the fore-
most authorities in the country on the Reconstruction
Period. The excellence of his previous contributions on
special topics in this field is sufficient guarantee of the
value of the present comprehensive work.
"It is certainly a most interesting and important plan." — Woodrow Wilson.
"Every student . . . will rejoice over this addition to his facilities for intelligent
appreciation of the great interests involved in the sectional struggle of 1861-1865,
and its aftermath." — Chicago Evening Post.
"I feel sure that your work will be of great interest and benefit to the future
historian." — Thomas Nelson Page.
Full descriptive circular and list of documents
will be sent by the publishers on application.
**An invaluable contribution to the makings of American History.'" — The Nation.
The HISTORIC HIGH-
WAYS OF AMERICA
BY
ARCHER BUTLER HULBERT
A series of monographs on the History of America as portrayed
in the evolution of its highways of War, Commerce
and Social Expansion
THE VOLUMES ARE
1 — Paths ol the Mound-Building Indians 8— Military Roads : Such roads as those hewn
and Great Game Animals : Part I, habitat and by Marin, Bouquet, Lewis, Mcintosh, George Rogers
migrations of the mound-builders; Part II, buffalo trails. Clark, Crawford, Harmar, St Clair, and Wayne are
2 — Indian Thoroughfares : An account of Indian
woodcraft and the fire great Indian trails of the Eastern 9 — Waterways of Westward Expansion :
States. The history of the Ohio River and its tributaries; their
- ... .■......_.. . . influence in the peopling of the Northwest Territory.
3 — Washington's Road : The first chapter of
the Old French War. Washington's early life from an 10 — The Cumberland Road : From Maryland
original standpoint. to Illinois, "it carried thousands of population and
. *-.,...»._. . millions of wealth into the West and, more than any
4— Braddock's Road : The famous campaign of . . , . . . . , .
....._,- . . . _ ... other material structure in the land, served to harmonize
1755. This road from the Potomac to the Monon- , . ........
. . . . ... . . . and strengthen, if not to save, the Union. '
gahela was the first great highway of material progress
to the West. 11-12 — Pioneer Roads, two volumes: Tavern life.
stage lines, mail and express systems, the story of some
famous turnpikes.
5— Old Glade Road : Built by Forbes, Braddock's
successor. The campaign of 1758, resulting in the
capture of Fort Duquesne. 13-14— The Great American Canals, two
volumes: The Erie Canal, Chesapeake and Ohio,
Pennsylvania Canal, etc.
6— Boone's Wilderness Road : This highway
through Cumberland Gap was the scene of the memor-
able exploits of Boone, Walker, and Gist, which had 15 — The Future of Road-Making: A sympo-
such far-reaching effects for Western settlement, shim by the latest and best authorities on Good Roads.
7 — Portage Paths : The important portages which 16 — Index to the Series : Constructed on analyti-
were the "keys to the interior of the continent" for cal principles and affording ready access to any name
explorers, missionaries, traders, and pioneers. or topic in the entire work.
Sixteen volumes, crown octavo, cloth, uncut, gilt tops. A limited
edition only, printed direct from type, and the type distributed. Each
volume handsomely printed in large type on Dickinson's hand-made
paper, and illustrated with maps, plates, and facsimiles.
Price, volumes 1 and 2, #2.00 net each; volumes 3 to 16, #2.50 net each.
"The fruit not only of the study of original historical sources in documents
found here and in England, but of patient and enthusiastic topographical studies, in
the course of which every foot of these old historic highways has been traced and
traversed." — The Living Age.
Full descriptive circulars giving the contents of each volume
and extracts from reviews may be had on application.
Carlj> Western tEratoete
= — =17484846 — =—
A SERIES OF ANNOTATED REPRINTS
of some of the best and rarest contemporary volumes of Travel, descrip-
tive of the Aborigines and Social and Economic Conditions in the Middle
and Far West during the Period of Early American Settlement.
COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING VOLUMES
1— Weiser's Journal of a Tour to the Ohio in 1748. 11, 12— Faux's Tour to the United States, 1819-
Croghan's Tours into the Western Country. 1820. Welby's Visit to North America and
1750-1765. Post's Western Tours. 1758-59. Illinois, 1819-1820.
Morris's Journal relative to his Thrilling Expert- 13— Nuttall's Trarels into Arkansas Territory. 1819.
encesontheMaumeeinl764. l4f 15 16 l7_S- H> Long.s Expedition from
2— Long s Voyages and Travels of an Indian Inter- Pittsburg to the Rocky Mountains. 1819-1820
3-Saux JS&rSSL Kentucky in 1795- ^^^JSmu^^^^ *""
96. Michaux (F. A.) Travels to the West of __ |^°":sj° t^^aclfic/ i**"1*27-
the Alleghanies. 1802. Harris's Tour into the 1», ^t>— Ogden s Tour through the Western Country,
Territory Northwest of the AUeghanies. 1803. 1821-1823. Bullock s Journey through Western
4— Cuming's Tour to the Western Country, etc.. 5tates- 182'- Gregg s Commerce of the Prairies.
1807-1809. _, 1831-1839.
5— Bradbury's Travels in the Interior of America, 21 — Wyeth's Journey from Atlantic to Pacific, 1832.
1809-1811. Townsend's Journey across the Rockies to
6— Brackenridge's Voyage up the Missouri. 1811. Columbia River, 1834.
Franchere's Voyage to the N. W. Coast. 1811- 22, 23, 24, 25— Maximilian, Prince of Wied-
1814. Neuwied's Travels in the Interior of North
7— Ross's Adventures of the First Settlers on the America with folio Atlas. 1843.
Oregon. 1810-13. 26,27— Flagg's Far West, 1836-1837. DeSmet's
8— Buttnck's Voyages. Travels, and Discoveries. Letters and Sketches. Residence among Indian
1812-19. Evans s Tour of 4000 miles through Tribes 1841-1842
Western States and Territories. 1818 28, 29-Farnham's Travels in the Great Western
9-Fhnt's Letter, from America. 1818-1820 Prairi m9 De Smet,s . j
10-Hulme's Tour in the West (Ohio, Indiana, and d T , 1845.1846.
Illinois), 1818. Flower's Letters from Lexington o«_ r* ,_ , — , .. „ ,
and Ulinoi.. 1819. Flower's Letters from Illinois. 2°~Kf}T^LS Travels orcr the Rocky Mountains-
1820-1821. Woods's Residence in English 1845-1846.
Prairie. Illinois, 1820-1821. 31— Index to the Series.
Edited with Historical, Geographical, Ethnological, and
Bibliographical Notes, and Introductions and Index, by
Reuben Gold Thwaites, ll.d.
With facsimiles of the original title-pages, maps, portraits, views, etc.
31 volumes, large 8vo, cloth, uncut, gilt tops. Price, $4 net per volume
(except the Atlas, which is #15 net).
An Elaborate Analytical Index to the Whole
Almost all the rare originals are unindexed. In the present reprint series, this immense
mass of historical data will be made accessible through one exhaustive analytical index.
EXTRACTS FROM A FEW OF THE REVIEWS
AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW: "The books are handsomely bound and printed. The editing
by Dr. Thwaites seems to have been done with his customary care and knowledge. There is no want of
helpful annotations. The books therefore are likely to be of more real value than the early
prints from which they are taken."
THE OUTLOOK: "Dr. Thwaites is the best possible editor who could have been chosen for such a task."
"The student of society, as well as the historian, can profit by the perusal of these travels; . . .
they present, as is nowhere else so well presented, the picture of society in the making in the .American
back country." — Frederick J. Turner in the Dial.
THE NATION: "Thoroughly interesting, as well as historically valuable."
Full descriptive circulars giving the contents
of each volume may be had on application.
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 9999 06507 547 3
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